Tozer is a surname commonly believed to have originated in Devon, South West England. It is a reference to the occupation of
carding
Carding is a mechanical process that disentangles, cleans and intermixes fibres to produce a continuous web or sliver (textiles), sliver suitable for subsequent processing. This is achieved by passing the fibres between differentially moving su ...
of wool which was originally performed by the use of teasels (Latin ''carduus''), via the Middle English word ''tōsen'', to tease ut The surname has variants, including the lesser-known "Tozier".
The Tozers of Moretonhampstead
According to the Moretonhampstead History Society, the Tozer family was, by 1332, established at Howton, which was part of the manor of Moreton until it was alienated. A 15th-century record in the Public Record Office (C.1/56/207) records a legal dispute between John and William Tozer over "Houghton in the parish of Moreton".
There are several gravestones and a chest tomb to later members of the Tozer family in the churchyard of Moretonhampstead parish church. The properties of Great Howton and Howton Langhill are also recorded as being in the possession of members of the Tozer family.
Notable people with the surname
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A.W. Tozer
Aiden Wilson Tozer (April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963) was an American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. For his accomplishments, he received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton colleges.
Early life
Toz ...
(1897–1963), American pastor
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Aaron Tozer
Aaron Tozer (born 1788, died 1854) was a captain in the Royal Navy.
Life
Tozer was born in 1788. He entered the Navy in June 1801 on board , with Captain Thomas Baker, on the Irish station. He afterwards served in the East Indies and on the home ...
(1788–1854), British naval officer
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Aiden Wilson Tozer
Aiden Wilson Tozer (April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963) was an American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. For his accomplishments, he received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton colleges.
Early life
Toz ...
(1897–1963), American Protestant pastor, preacher and author
* Augustus Edmonds Tozer (1857–1910), English composer and organist
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Ben Tozer
Ben Peter Anthony Tozer (born 1 March 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays for side Wrexham as a central defender.
Career Swindon Town
Born in Plymouth, Tozer began his career as a youth player at his local club Plymouth Argyl ...
(born 1990), English footballer, currently playing for Wrexham AFC
* William "Bill" Tozer (1882–1955), baseball player
* Bruce Tozer (1926–2021), Australian cricketer
* Claude Tozer (1890–1920), Australian doctor and cricketer
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Dave Tozer
Dave Tozer is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, songwriter, and musician. He has worked with several R&B, hip-hop, rock and pop artists including John Legend, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, John Mayer, Snoop Do ...
, American music producer, songwriter and musician
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Edwin E. Tozer
Edwin Ellis (Ed) Tozer (born 1943) is a British retired management and IT consultant and SF author,Ed Tozer ...
(born 1943), British computer scientist, management consultant, and author
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Elias Tozer
Elias Tozer (21 November 1825 – 13 December 1873) was a Devon journalist, poet and collector of folk stories.
Life
Elias Tozer was born on 21 November 1825 in Exeter.
For many years he was a reporter for the ''Western Times'', an Exeter paper.
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(1825–73), Devon journalist, poet and collector of folk stories.
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Elishama Tozer
Elishama Tozer (July 3, 1741 – 1833) was an American politician from New York (state), New York.
Life
He was born on July 3, 1741, in Lyme, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas Tozer (born 1711) and Deborah (Bates) Tozer (born 1718). In 1761, he mar ...
(1741–1790), New York politician
* Faye Tozer (born 1975) English singer-songwriter with the band Steps
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Geoffrey Tozer
Geoffrey Peter Bede Hawkshaw Tozer (5 November 195421 August 2009) was an Australian classical pianist and composer. A child prodigy, he composed an opera at the age of eight and became the youngest recipient of a Churchill Fellowship award at 13 ...
(1954–2009), Australian pianist
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Henry Fanshawe Tozer
The Reverend Henry Fanshawe Tozer, FBA (18 May 1829 – 2 June 1916) was a British writer, teacher, traveller, and geographer. His 1897 ''History of Ancient Geography'' was well-regarded.
Biography
Tozer was born in Plymouth, Devon, the eldes ...
(1829–1916), English writer, teacher, and traveler
* Henry Tozer (priest) (1602–1650), English priest and academic
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Horace Tozer
Sir Horace Tozer (23 April 1844 – 20 August 1916) ''
John Tozer
John Carmichael Tozer (23 June 1922 – 23 April 1990) was an Australian public servant and politician who served as a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1974 to 1980, representing North Province.
Tozer w ...
(1922–1990), Australian politician
* Joseph Tozer (1881–1955), British actor
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Keith Tozer
Keith Tozer is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He is currently the commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League.
Play ...
, American soccer player
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Kira Tozer
Kira Tozer (born December 6, 1984) is a Canadian voice actress for cartoons, anime and video games. Her major roles include Minka Mark on ''Littlest Pet Shop'' and Kagome Higurashi in the 2012 anime, '' Inuyasha: The Final Act''. She married i ...
, Canadian voice actress
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Norman Tozer
Norman Tozer (13 July 1934 – 14 July 2010) was a freelance reporter who appeared on '' Tom Tom'', a children's programme produced by the BBC in Bristol. Among his other roles, he reported for BBC London News and such BBC Radio 4 programmes as '' ...
(1934–2010), British television and radio presenter and reporter
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Solomon Tozer
Franklin's lost expedition was a failed British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845 aboard two ships, and , and was assigned to traverse the last unnavigated sections of the Northwest ...
(disappeared 1848), Sergeant of Royal Marines
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Tim Tozer
Timothy David Tozer (born 3 August 1959) is a British businessman, and the former Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors Ltd, also known as General Motors UK Limited.
Early life
He was born in Aldershot, now in the Rushmoor borough of Hampshire. ...
(born 1959), British businessman
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Vivian Tozer
Vivian Hoyles Tozer (1870–1954) was a solicitor and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
Early life
Vivian Hoyles Tozer was born on 27 May 1870 in Gympie, the son of Horace Tozer (a ...
(1870–1954), Australian politician
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William Tozer
William George Tozer (1829–1899) was a colonial bishop in the 19th century.
He was born in Teignmouth and educated at St John's College, Oxford and ordained in 1854. His first post was a curacy at St Mary Magdalene Munster Square. Later he wa ...
(1829–1899), British clergyman, bishop of Nyasaland
Phil Tozer - colorectal surgeon