Surname Toussaint - Meaning and Origin
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read moreToussaint: What does the surname Toussaint mean?
Toussaint is a French surname with an origin in the Latin “totus”, meaning “all”. It was used as a term of endearment in medieval France, and can be found in various spellings throughout the centuries. The name has become quite popular in its native France, and has spread throughout the world.
Typically, Toussaint is a toponymic surname derived from places in France named Toussaint. It is a relatively common surname in Europe, particularly in countries with French roots such as Canada, Switzerland and Belgium. Additionally, the name is used in American Creole cultures, such as Louisiana, where it is somewhat more common.
Historically, the name is linked to various figures in French history, including the bishop of Tournai, Étienne Toussaint (1428-1478) and the martyr Louis Toussaint (1494-1562). The most famous bearer, however, is doubtless Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), a leader of the Haitian Revolution who is remembered as the forerunner of Haiti’s independence.
Toussaint remains an important surname symbolizing pride in France’s past, as well as a reminder of the hard work and achievements of its past pioneers.
Order DNA origin analysisToussaint: Where does the name Toussaint come from?
The last name Toussaint is a common French surname that can be found all over the world today. Toussaint is thought to have originated from a Latin phrase meaning "all saints" and the name is still widely used in France. In France, it is one of the 20 most common surnames and can especially be found in the north and west of the country.
The Toussaint surname is also present in other French-speaking countries including Canada, where the name has been documented since the early 19th century. The surname remains common in Quebec, with many families living in the Montreal area.
Further afield, Toussaint can be found in many countries in Europe including Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and in the Caribbean countries of Haiti and Guadeloupe. In Haiti, Toussaint's legacy is still remembered, as the surname of the former leader Toussaint Louverture, who led the country's slave rebellion against the French.
Toussaint is also present in the United States. The first record of the surname in America dates back to 1621 and today, the name is mainly concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic states. Some families that can trace their ancestry back to the 1600s still live in Maryland and Virginia.
Overall, the surname Toussaint is present in many countries today. Though it may have originated centuries ago in France, the impact of the Toussaint name can be felt all over the world.
Variations of the surname Toussaint
The surname Toussaint has a number of different variants and spellings of the same origin. The most common of these variants is Tosaint, while some people might also spell it as Tousaint, Tousainte, or Toussaunt.
In some countries such as France and Quebec, the surname is commonly found with the double “s” as Toussaint, while in other countries such as the United States it is more common to find the single “s” spelling of the surname.
There are also variants of the surname Toussaint in other languages with similar spellings, such as Toszent in Polish and Tošent in Slovenian.
Along with the different spellings of the surname, there are also many different surnames of similar origin. Some of these include the Italian Tosanti, Tossani, and Tossanti, the German Tosse, the Dutch Tuijns, and the Japanese Tōshi (とうし).
These different spellings and surnames all have their roots in the French Toussaint surname, which was likely created from a combination of two French words— “tous”, which means “all”, and “saint”, meaning “holy”. It is believed that the name was first given to someone who was particularly pious or devout, hence its meaning “all saints”.
Despite all the different variants and spellings, the name is derived from the same root and has the same origin.
Famous people with the name Toussaint
- Allen Toussaint: Legendary American musician, singer-songwriter, producer, arranger, and one of the most influential figures in the New Orleans music scene
- Anne Toussaint: French Actress
- Anne Toussaint: Dutch actress
- Christian Toussaint: French footballer
- DeAngelo Toussaint: American basketball player
- Gloria Toussaint: French model and actress
- Jean-Philippe Toussaint: French novelist and filmmaker
- Jonathan Toussaint: Dutch actor, director and producer
- Julien Toussaint: French footballer
- Leon Toussaint: Dutch amusement park manager
- Louis Toussaint: French physicist
- Marjolaine Toussaint: French political activist and anti-racist campaigner
- Patrice Toussaint: French actor and director
- Philippe Toussaint: French cinematographer
- Sergio Toussaint: Uruguayan footballer
- Sidney Toussaint: Surinamese footballer
- Wilfried Toussaint: Belgian sculptor and painter