Map of England showing where the Toone arms are recorded
The Toone arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Toone arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Toone Family in England
The surname Toone is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of northern England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely evolved as a locative surname, which was a common practice in the Middle Ages to identify individuals based on the specific town or village where they resided. Linguists suggest that the name may be derived from the Old English word tun, which originally referred to an enclosed piece of land, a farmstead, or a small settlement. As families began to move away from their original homes to seek new opportunities in growing urban centers like York, they often kept the name of their ancestral village to distinguish themselves from others. By the seventeenth century, the Toone family had established a presence in the region, participating in the social and economic life of a city that served as a vital hub for trade and administration in Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Tun
Old English term for an enclosed settlement, farmstead, or village.
This name
TooneA habitational name for someone who lived near or worked on an enclosed farmstead or village.
Related arms
Hammickrecorded with Toone, same area
Henckellrecorded with Toone, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Hey, David, Family Names and Family History, 2000
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
