Tóth

Tóth is a Hungarian surname meaning "Slovak" or "from Slovakia." It originates from the medieval Hungarian ethnonym tó(t) or tót, used to designate Slavic inhabitants of the northern parts of the Kingdom of Hungary, especially Slovaks. The surname arose as an ethnonymic identifier and later became hereditary.

Prevalence and distribution: Tóth is one of the most common surnames in Hungary; it also occurs widely among Hungarian communities in Transylvania (Romania), southern Slovakia, and Vojvodina (Serbia), with a substantial diaspora in North America and Western Europe. In non-Hungarian contexts, it is often anglicized as "Toth" or preserved with diacritics as "Tóth."

Etymology and usage: The term tót is archaic and may be considered outdated or ethnopolitical; in modern Hungarian it remains primarily as a surname. It does not imply a specific occupation or class.

Notable bearers: People with the surname Tóth have been prominent in many fields, including sports, science, arts, and public life, particularly among Hungarians and in Hungarian diaspora communities.

See also: Toth (surname); Tot (disambiguation)