The name Todd is an English masculine given name that originated as a surname derived from the Old English word "tod", meaning fox. It was originally a nickname for someone with reddish-brown hair or fur-like hair, resembling the color of a fox.

The earliest recorded use of the name Todd dates back to the late 12th century in England, where it appeared as a surname in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1194. Over time, it transitioned from being a surname to a given name, likely due to the influence of other animal-inspired names popular during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest historical references to the name Todd can be found in the records of the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented the names of landowners and taxpayers in England. The name was mainly concentrated in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire during this period.

The first notable bearer of the name Todd was John Todd (c. 1280 – c. 1350), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland during the 14th century. Another early figure was Hugh Todd (c. 1380 – c. 1440), a Scottish nobleman and landowner from East Lothian.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name gained popularity among English Puritans, who often chose biblical or virtue-inspired names for their children. One prominent figure from this era was Hugh Todd (1570 – 1628), a Scottish-born Puritan minister who emigrated to Virginia and became a significant figure in the early colonization of North America.

In the 18th century, the name was borne by Samuel Todd (1717 – 1810), an American educator and politician who served as a member of the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. Another notable figure was David Todd (1775 – 1855), a prominent American jurist and politician who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The 19th century saw the rise of several influential individuals with the name Todd, including Reverend John Todd (1800 – 1873), an American Congregationalist minister and author, and Mary Todd Lincoln (1818 – 1882), the wife of President Abraham Lincoln and a prominent figure in her own right.

As the name continued to gain popularity in the English-speaking world, it was borne by several notable figures in the 20th century, such as Ralph Todd (1892 – 1992), a British chemist and Nobel Laureate, and Richard Todd (1919 – 2009), an Irish-born British actor known for his roles in films like The Longest Day and The Dam Busters.