Tobias
A biblical surname from the Hebrew name meaning “Jehovah is good.”
The #2,494 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 21,319 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Tobias is ultimately from the Hebrew name Toviyyah, usually explained as meaning “Jehovah is good” or “the Lord is good.” The form passed through Greek and Latin into English and was used as a personal name long before it became a surname. In English surname use, it is generally a patronymic surname formed from the biblical given name.
History
The name is attested very early in English records, with a Tobias appearing in a Kentish charter of the 7th century. Later, it developed as a hereditary surname from the personal name, alongside related short forms such as Toby and Tobin. It remains fairly uncommon as a surname in English-speaking countries today.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname was already appearing in Anglo-Saxon-era documentary Latin centuries before many English hereditary surnames were fixed.
From the historical record
“TOBBIAS 1 (Gr. - Heb.) Jehovah is Good TOBIAS I [Gr. Tw^fas, Heb. Tdbhiydh—tdbh, good ; Yak, a contr. of Y'h&vdh, the Lord] Ego Tobias presbyter rogatus testis subscripsi. — Kentish Charter, A.D. 699 ; Cart. Sax. no. 99 T°|f,^}v.Tohy.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)