Toward

Toward
This most interesting surname has two distinct possible origins. Firstly, it may be of early medieval English origin, from the Middle English "toward", docile; hence the name was a nickname for a compliant, obedient person. Secondly, the name may be of Old Scottish origin, as a locational name from the lands of Toward in the parish of Dunoon, in Argyllshire, Scotland. In Scotland, legend states that during the reign of Robert 111 (1390 - 1406), two sons of the chief of the Lamonts changed their name to Toward, and another authority has it that people of this name are considered a sept of Clan Lamond. The surname is first recorded from the former source mentioned above, in the late 13th Century (see below), while recordings in Scotland include: Patrick Towart, burgess freeman of Glasgow in 1600; one Malcolm Toward, a reader in Logie, was "deposed in 1600 for consulting the Egyptians"; and Walter Towar was bedell (an officer of the court) of Logie in 1690. The surname is chiefly found in the North of England, especially Northumberland and Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margery Toward, which was dated 1275, in the "Hundred Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Toward — To ward, Towards To wards, prep.[AS. ? impending, imminent, future, toward, ? towards. See {To}, and {ward}, {wards}.] 1. In the direction of; to. [1913 Webster] He set his face toward the wilderness. Num. xxiv. 1. [1913 Webster] The waves make… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Toward — ( gd. Tollard) is a village near Dunoon at the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Nearby is Castle Toward, a former country house built close to the ruined Toward Castle. Now an outdoor education centre, its grounds …   Wikipedia

  • Toward — To ward, a. [AS. ?. See {Toward}, prep.] 1. Approaching; coming near. His toward peril. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. Readly to do or learn; compliant with duty; not froward; apt; docile; tractable; as, a toward youth. [1913 Webster] 3. Ready to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • toward — [tôrd; tōrd, tō′ərd; twôrd; too wôrd′, təwôrd′; ] for adj. [ tō′ərd, tôrd] prep. [ME < OE toweard: see TO1 & WARD] 1. in the direction of 2. so as to face; facing 3. in a manner designed to achieve or along a course likely to result in; in… …   English World dictionary

  • toward — toward, towards In BrE towards is much the more common form for the preposition, whereas in AmE toward is more usual: We walked toward / towards the house …   Modern English usage

  • Toward — To ward, Towards To wards adv. Near; at hand; in state of preparation. [1913 Webster] Do you hear sught, sir, of a battle toward ? Shak. [1913 Webster] We have a trifling foolish banquet Towards. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • toward — / towards [prep1] on the way to; near against, almost, approaching, close to, coming up, contra, en route, facing, for, fronting, headed for, in relation to, in the direction of, in the vicinity, just before, moving, nearing, nearly, not quite,… …   New thesaurus

  • toward — O.E. toweard in the direction of, prepositional use of toweard (adj.) coming, approaching, from to (see TO (Cf. to)) + weard, from P.Gmc. * warth, from PIE *wert turn (see WARD (Cf. ward)). Towards with …   Etymology dictionary

  • toward — to|ward [ tɔrd, tə wɔrd ] or to|wards [ tɔrdz, tə wɔrdz ] preposition *** 1. ) in a particular direction used for saying in which direction someone or something is going, facing, or looking: a stream of traffic speeding toward the city I saw… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • toward — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard facing, imminent, from tō, preposition, to + weard ward Date: before 12th century 1. (also towards) [Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, preposition, toward …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • toward — towardness, n. prep. /tawrd, tohrd, teuh wawrd , twawrd, twohrd/; adj. /tawrd, tohrd/, prep. Also, towards. 1. in the direction of: to walk toward the river. 2. with a view to obtaining or having; for: They re saving money toward a new house. 3.… …   Universalium

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