The Ontario Name Index (TONI) shows where information about a particular name can be found. TONI will quickly become large – perhaps as many as fifty million entries. Note that this is an index – it does not contain the information, just tells you where to find the information.
As TONI grows, it will incorporate the information currently in the Ontario Cemetery Ancestor Index. But for now, remember to check both indices for your elusive relatives. And remember to come back as both databases receive frequent updates.
You will not be charged anything unless you click on a Borrow / Buy button. If the item is Pay Per View (PPV) you must be logged into your account.
The Borrow / Buy button may take you to a screen which gives you purchase options, for example to buy the whole book of cemetery transcripts through the e-Store or to buy that particular tombstone inscription through PPV.
TONI Database Search - Total available records are 2231558
To find a specific listing, enter a search term and select 'submit' for name, location or owner.
Total records returned are .
Total records displayed are 100.
You can search on a person’s name. Our search engine will search the whole field for lastname but will look for individual words in firstname. Thus SMITH Mary Ellen will be found in a search for SMITH Mary or SMITH Ellen or SMITH Mary Ellen, but will not be found in a search for SMITH Ellen Mary.
We do not use periods, so search for JONES R E, not JONES R. E. We always leave a space between words or letters so do not search for JONES RE
We use quotes around nicknames or other oddities so it is worthwhile searching for SMITH Mary “Ellen” Where known we list a married woman under both married and maiden names.
Record Type
The record type field tells you what sort of information can be found in that source. It is given as a code:
b = birth
ch = christening / baptism
d = death
fc = funeral card
fh = family history
m = marriage
n = newspaper article
o = obit
t = tombstone
tp = township papers
tw = Tweedsmuir history
Date
The date field has two forms, year only (eg “1872") and decade only (eg “1870s”). In many cases there is no date given.
Location
The location field gives the location of the event itself, no more detailed than historic county or city in Ontario . For non-Ontario locations, we enter what is provided. We use the name given, eg Berlin not Kitchener . In many cases there is no location to use.
Owner
The owner field tells you the Ontario Heritage Organization that holds the information.
Info Button
The info button will give you more information on the source document. It may give you a list of locations for the document.
