Just nort of Carlisle is the village of Todhill which translates as "the hill of the Fox", and this is probably the place of origin of the Todkill name holders. Alternatively, the name could be locational for one who lived by a Tod-Kealda, the spring where the foxe's drank. "Tod" is an ancient British word for the fox whilst "kealda" is Norse-Viking, and Cumbria an area under Norse control in the 8th and 9th Centuries. The surname "Todhunter" (The fox hunter) is popular in Cumbria but "Todkill" is not recorded until July 8th 1838 at Bridekirk, and then as Todkell. The name appears to be most recorded in London, this is not unusual with rare locational names, a point of interest being that the first recording date coincides with the failed march to London of Bonnie Prince Charlie, who passed through Cumbria. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Todkill, which was dated February 25th 1745, married Mary Sansun, at St. Georges Church, Mayfair, London, during the reign of King George 11, "The Last Soldier King", 1727 - 1760. 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.

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