Not as may be thought, anything to do with collecting "tolls" - This name is locational and derives from the Olde English "Toll", itself a derivative of the Norse "Porleifr" and meaning "A clump of trees". The origin is pre 8th Century and the name is found in such villages as Tollesbury and Tolleshunt in Essex, Tollerton in Nottingham or even Thurleston in Leicester. The name development has included Robert atte Toll, (1327, Worcester) and Richard Tolle of Sussex in 1296, whilst Thomas Tollie (as spelt) was an early settler in Virgina New Colony, in 1635. The plural of the name indicates the "Son of Toll". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Nicholas Tolle. which was dated 1296, The Pipe Rolls of Sussex. during the reign of King Edward I, 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.