This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Thurgod' (Turgod, Domesday; compare Tur-ulf for Thur-ulf, and Tor-aid for Thor-ald).' William Togod, alias Thogod' (L). This is an important entry, proving, if proof were wanting, that our Toogoods and Towgoods are the same. That Thurgood should be euphemized to Thoroughgood was as natural as inevitable.

Alicia Thurgod, Bedfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Geoffrey Togod, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Isolda Togod, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

William Togod, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Hugo Togod, 1370: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

'Edward Togoode, sup. for B.A., Jan. 1525-6': Register of the University of Oxford.

1557. Baptised — Dority Througood: St. Antholin (London).

1650. Baptised — William, s. Richard Thoroughgood, fishmonger: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1651. Baptised — Joseph, s. Richard Thorogooa, fishmonger: ibid.

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Thorald,' a favourite early and even Middle-English personal name. The surname still clings to Lincolnshire, where it was evidently popular as a personal name six centuries ago. v. Terrell and Turrell.

Turold, Domesday.

Thorold the Sheriff: Freeman, Norman Conq.

Ralph fil. Thorald, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Torold Camerarius, Essex, ibid.

Symon Thorald, Norfolk, ibid.

Martin Torald, Oxfordshire, ibid.

William Torel, or Thorel, London, ibid.

Richard Torel, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Ralph Turold, Suffolk, ibid.

Torald de Papileon: History Dunelmensis, Surtees Soc., vii. temp. 1400.

1638. Married — Robert Chesham and Phebe Thorold: St. Michael, Cornhill.

1649. — Richard Thorrold and Mabella Gay: St. James, Clerkenwell.

TURGOT: From the Old West Norse personal name Thorgaut-r. Turgot, the confessor of Queen Margaret, wrote the Vita S. Margarete, and became bishop of St. Andrews in 1107. Turgot is still an English surname under the forms Thorogood, Thurgod, Toogood, etc.

(English) a nickname = Very Good [Old English purh, th(o)rough; in compds., very + gód, good: cp. Old English purh-hálig, very holy] (Anglo-Scand.) for Thurgood1, Thurgate.

Not so good as it seems, however; for it has no reference to moral excellence. Turgod is a Domesday baptismal appellation, and Thurgood a Danish name, which has probably been improved (?) to this orthography. See however, Thorowgood.

Can hardly refer to superexcellence of character. The old spelling Towgood is almost conclusive against such derivation. The last syllable maybe a corruption of wood.

The same as Thorowgood, the Essex Thurgar, the Danish. Thurgood, and the Domesday Turgod and Thurgot, name of the first bishop of Sweden. The name seems to come from the Old German thor, bold, strong, fierce, perhaps the same as the W. dewr, brave, bold, valiant, stout; Gr. θουριος, θουριος, warlike, ardent, fierce, an epithet of Mars, and doubtless the origin of the name of the Scandinavian god Thor. Wachter thinks Thurgot may be rendered "trusting in God." He gives also from this root Thurovaro, Thorismodus, Thorisin, &c. From Thurgood, Turgod, Thurgot we may have the name Targett.

The same as Towgood. From some local name compounded of "wood."

A family of Thurgood held the Sawcemeres estate in Manuden parish during Elizabeth's reign, but shortly afterwards the estate passed out of the family (W.). Edward Thorowgood held the manor of Maylerds, Havering, in the reign of Charles II.; and in the same reign Sir Benjamin Thorowgood, lord mayor of London, owned the manor of Woodford; Catlyn Thorogood of Daweshall, Lambourn, was high sheriff of Essex in 1729: Selby Thorowgood, Esq., had an estate in Alresford in the middle of last century (M.). A Herts family of Thorowgood obtained a grant of arms last century (L.), and the name of Thirgood or Thurgood is still found in that county. Alice Thurgod lived in Bedfordshire in the 13th century (H. R.).