An organization of family historians, some with Toronto roots, others who live in Toronto, we have ancestors around the world.

The Ontario Name Index: “TONI”

TONI is a mega-index of names with the goal of including every name found in any publication relating to Ontario. The index points people to the source in which the name is mentioned. The source may be a Branch publication like a cemetery transcription, a website, original records on microfilm, a family history, local histories, etc.

TONI, an initiative by our parent organization the Ontario Genealogical Society, was officially launched in 2011 and is available for free on the OGS website. TONI now contains more than 12 million records, thanks to the volunteer efforts of OGS members including Toronto Branch members.

Click here to access TONI.

However, much work remains.

  • TONI indexing is done on your own computer, so it is a great way for both local members and those living at a distance to volunteer their time and skills.
  • You can work on just one publication—a very modest time commitment—and if you enjoy the task, you can take on other publications when it suits your schedule.
  • Our TONI coordinator will suggest a publication for you to index, and provide you with very clear instructions and a template. Most volunteers use MS Excel but other spreadsheets and databases can be used.
  • If you have a particular publication that you’d like to index, or have a completed index, we’d be happy to discuss how it can be added to TONI.
  • As you work on the project, you’ll have ready access to the support of the TONI coordinator.

If you would like more information or are ready to come on board as a TONI indexer, click here to send us an e-mail.