Surname Talmadge - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Talmadge: What does the surname Talmadge mean?
The surname Talmadge is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from an Old English place-name, "Tall's Bridge". This place-name refers to a bridge associated with a person named Taetel. It thus has the connotation of "bridge builder" or "bridge owner". The surname is not very common and people bearing it can often trace their ancestry back to England, from where the name originates. Over centuries, spelling variations have included Talmidge, Talmage, Talmadge, Tallmadge and others. It can also possibly denote "people from the village with a lake". Notable people with the surname include two early Hollywood actresses Norma and Constance Talmadge, and an American senator and governor of Georgia, Herman Talmadge.
Order DNA origin analysisTalmadge: Where does the name Talmadge come from?
The last name Talmadge is common in the United States. According to the 2010 US Census, 8,623 people had the surname Talmadge, which ranks just outside of the top 1,000 last names in the US. The five US States where Talmadge is most commonly found include Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Louisiana. These five states are all in the southeastern regions of the US, suggesting that a large number of Talmadge families have remained in this corner of the country for generations.
The last name Talmadge has deep roots in the region. Talmadge is a patronymic surname that originates from the personal name Tarantadd, which was used in medieval England. The Talmadge family emigrated to the colonies in the early 1700s, making their way down the eastern seaboard as far south as Virginia. From there, the family spread to the southeast, eventually settling in the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia, and eventually Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
No matter where you are in the US, it is likely that you will encounter at least one person who has the last name Talmadge. Families have remained relatively close to their roots in the southeast, but individuals with this surname can be found all over the United States.
Variations of the surname Talmadge
Talmadge is a surname of English origin. It is most likely derived from either a habitational name, a name derived from a place or region, or an occupational name, a type of surname derived from the person's occupation. Alternative spellings and variants of Talmadge include Talmage, Talmidge, and Talmadge.
The habitational name Talmadge could have derived from "the tal (forest) edge," indicating that a family originated near a forest. This name may also be derived from a placename, such as Talemere, located in the county of Suffolk.
The occupational surname variant is Talmage, derived from the Old English words "tāl" and "mǣge," meaning "scythe," a tool used for cutting grain. This name may also have derived from "taleman," which refers to a Stephenson or messenger.
The surname Talmidge could be a combination of the Old English words "tāl" and "mǣgth," indicating a person that was both powerful and influential.
Finally, other surname variants of Talmadge include Talmadg, Talmady, Talmedge, and Talmidge.
In conclusion, the surname Talmadge has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is likely to have originated from a placename, a forest, or an occupation. Variants include Talmage, Talmidge, and Talmadg, Talmady, Talmedge, and Talmidge.
Famous people with the name Talmadge
- Catherine Talmadge: American actress and singer
- George Talmadge: American jurist and politician
- Robert Talmadge: American entrepreneur and venture capitalist
- Neal Talmadge: American jazz violinist
- Hedy Lamarr (née Talmadge) Austrian-American actress and inventor
- Constance Talmadge: American silent movie star
- Norman Talmadge: American actor
- Clifford Talmadge: American film director
- Bonita Talmadge: American actress
- Eugene Talmadge: 44th and 46th Governor of Georgia
- Frank Talmadge: American film actor
- Joy Talmadge: American actor
- Jody Talmadge: American actor
- Georgia Talmadge: American vaudeville dancer
- Yusuf Talmadge: American Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist