Surname Touhey - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Touhey: What does the surname Touhey mean?
The surname Touhey is of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic O Tuathaigh, where "O" means "descendant of" and "Tuathaigh" refers to "the people's ruler" or "ruler of the tribe'. So, the whole surname essentially means "descendant of the ruler of the tribe". This name was prevalent among families residing in the West of Ireland, particularly in the County Clare and the surrounding regions. Like many other Irish surnames, it has been anglicized in various forms such as Tuohey, Toohy, O'Toohy, Tuohy and more. The spelling variations occurred due to the phonetic translations when English was introduced in Ireland. It's important to remember that many Irish names carry a rich history with strong connections to ancient Gaelic clans and the original Celtic traditions.
Order DNA origin analysisTouhey: Where does the name Touhey come from?
The last name Touhey is most commonly found in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish O'Toohy and is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name O Tuathaigh, meaning ‘descendant of Tuathach’. Within Ireland it is most commonly found in County Kerry, County Cork, and County Galway.
Outside of Ireland, Touhey is most common in the United States, particularly in the states of Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. There is also some presence of Touhey in Canada and Australia.
It is believed that the Touhey surname originated with Tuathal, a seventh-century king of Ireland. It is also believed to originate with the Irish Gaelic O’Tohighe, which means 'people of the chief'.
The Touhey name is quite popular today as it can be traced back to Irish origins. Although most bearers of the name are found in Ireland, there is also a large presence of Touhey abroad, particularly in the United States as well as in Canada and Australia. Those bearing the surname today can be proud of its Irish heritage and it can serve as a great reminder of their past and roots.
Variations of the surname Touhey
The surname Touhey is an anglicised spelling of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Tuathail. This surname has a number of variants and spellings associated with it, including: O'Toole, Tohill, Toole, Towell, and Tuohy.
The surname is derived from the Irish personal name Tuathal, which was a popular name amongst the Old Irish. The name means “people” or “tribe” and is composed of the elements tuath, which means “people” or “tribe”, and gal, meaning “valor” or “courage”.
In ancient Irish society, Ó Tuathail was a hereditary surname carried by the leader of the Uí Tuathail dynasty, which is believed to have dated back to the 10th century. This dynasty claimed direct descent from the High Kings of Ireland. The Ó Tuathail sept held the title lords of Uí Tuathail (O’Toole) and held large tracts of land in what is now County Wexford until the late 17th century.
The O'Toole surname was derived from the placename Tully, which is located in the west barony of Forth in County Wexford. The placename is derived from tuather, which means “a settlement”, or “a habitation surrounded by a wall”. The O'Toole sept were also associated with the lordship of Tully in County Wexford.
Other variants of the surname include Tuohy, which is derived from a separate sept located in what is now County Cork, and Towell, which is derived from the Ó Tobail dynasty from what is now County Westmeath.
These variants of the Touhey surname are a testament to the longevity and resilience of the Irish Gaelic language and culture. The various spellings of the Touhey surname represent centuries of history and help to tell the unique story of Irish families.
Famous people with the name Touhey
- Martin Touhey: an American video game designer and head of the Long Island Game Space.
- Joe Touhey: a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1892 to 1893.
- James Touhey: an American jockey who rode thoroughbred horses from around 1915 to 1940.
- Marry Touhey: a female singer who performed on Broadway in the 1920s before entering the vaudeville circuit.
- John Touhey: a British actor who has had feature roles in many films and television series.
- Michael Touhey: an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1895-1919.
- Niall Touhey: an Irish singer-songwriter and YouTube personality who has released multiple albums.
- Brian Touhey: an American advertising executive and academic who has written several books on marketing and advertising.
- Matt Touhey: a Canadian professional hockey player who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Kenneth Touhey: a Canadian cinematographer who has worked on numerous feature films and television series.