Tor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Tor was first found in Devon where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The family name was first referenced in the 12th century when they held estates in that shire. They were of the great Norman family of Martin de Tours from Tour near Bayeux. 1

The Sire de Tour conquered Cameys in Wales and became the Lord Marcher of South Wales. His sons either took the name FitzMartin or Tour, sometimes Tower. He built the Benedictine Abbey of St. Dogmael's and, of course, his great Castle at Newport, where the ruins still exist.

The family was granted vast estates in Devon, Somerset, and Dorset. Torre Abbey is today a historic building and art gallery in Torquay, Devon. It was founded in 1196 as a monastery for Premonstratensian canons.

Later, some of the family went north to Syndale in the West Riding of Yorkshire as evidenced by the following: "The township comprises by computation 1300 acres, and is chiefly the property of James Whitwell Torre, Esq., whose seat, Snydale Hall, is a handsome residence." 2

Another source notes: "probably the family of Torr came originally from the adjacent county of Warwickshire. The ancient and honourable family of Torre or De Turre, that resided for many generations at Westwood, near Haxey, Lincolnshire, came in the reign of Henry IV. from Warwickshire. " 3

Much further to the north in Scotland, "there were old lands named Torr which formed part of the barony of Ballinbreich, Fife, in 1517. Matthew de Torre de Inuerdouet witnessed a transaction between Serlo de Lascelis and the prior of St. Andrews, 1288. Thomas de la Tour of Ayrshire rendered homage in 1296. His seal bears a castle with 3 towers. " 4