Surname Tammen - Meaning and Origin

Tammen: What does the surname Tammen mean?

The last name Tammen is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German words "tamme" and "tammo," which both mean "bold" or "courageous". This surname is believed to have originated among the Germanic tribes, who settled in the region known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which was formerly occupied by the Slavic Wends.

Tammen is a rather common surname in Germany, particularly its eastern and northern regions. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, northern England, France, and Scandinavia. In America, it was brought to the New World by German immigrants and is most common in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

The nickname often associated with the surname Tammen is "Tams," which may have derived from "Tairohmann," a variation of the name "Tamerman" or "Tammorin." In fact, some branches of the family are known to have taken on the surname Tams in the early 19th century.

Today, people with the last name Tammen are known to be brave, resilient, and determined. They are known for being hardworking and kind, getting along well with others, and having a good sense of humor. Thinking independently, being passionate about their goals, and having a strong sense of justice are also values commonly associated with those sharing the last name Tammen.

Tammen: Where does the name Tammen come from?

The last name Tammen is most common today in Northern Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany, Tammen is one of the top thousand surnames, and is particularly common in the northwest of the country, from the Saxony region of East Germany through to the Rhineland and Westphalia of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is most common in the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, and Cologne.

In the Netherlands, the surname Tammen is much less common––it is ranked in the top ten thousand––but is most heavily concentrated in the province of North Holland, particularly in the cities of Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Groningen.

The origin of the surname is unclear, but it is thought to be derived from the Germanic transitive verb meaning ‘to tame, subdue, or bridle’, and may have been used to describe an especially obedient and/or patient person. It may also refer more metaphorically to one who has the ‘taming’ or calming of an animal, or a situation.

Variations of the surname Tammen

The surname Tammen is an uncommon name that may appear to have multiple spellings and variants. First, the most common spelling is Tammen, however, it has also been spelt as Tammann and Thammen. These spellings tend to be various conformations of the same surname, with Thammen being the most archaic of the three. Other potential variants are Tamm and Tamms, with Tamm being more popular in Sweden and Germany than its counterparts.

The alternate spelling of surnames can often be indicative of re-spelling or merging of names. In the case of Tammen, this change is more likely to be due to transcribing errors or phonetic spelling.

Furthermore, there are several surnames that have commonalities with the surname Tammen. These include Thamman, Thammann, Thamann, Thammens, and Thammasn.

Similar-sounding surnames may also be related to Tammen. These include Tamiami, Tamman, Tamming, Tamny, Tamon, Tamony, Tamoon, and Tanen. All these spellings are generally variations that arise from incorrect recording of spoken names at the time of registration.

Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Tammen are prolific and complicated to trace. Despite this, with some detective work, many of them may be related or branches of the initial name, Tammen.

Famous people with the name Tammen

• Hans Tammen, German experimental musician.
• Joe Tammen, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher.
• Jerry Tammen, American attorney and politician from Colorado.
• Henri Tammen, Canadian missionary and physician who worked in India.
• Frans Tammen, Finnish landscape architect.
• Paul Tammen, German resistance fighter during World War II.
• John Tammen, a Dutch/German-American writer and farmer.
• Wilhelm Tammen, a famous German philosopher.
• Ray Tammen, American lawyer and politician from Colorado
• Franz Tammen, German-American businessman who amassed a fortune in the early 1900s.
• Gladys Tammen, a British suffragette and socialist.
• Jules Tammen, Belgian painter.
• George Tammen, a renowned German botanist.
• Jean Tammen, French lawyer and publisher of the newspaper Paris-Soir.
• Hans W. Tammen, German electrical engineer.
• Buverus Tammen, Dutch monumental stonemason.
• Paul Tammen, German administrator and patron of the arts.
• Otto Tammen, German entomologist.
• Moritz Tammen, German romantic composer.
• Gerhard Tammen, German historian and medievalist.

Other surnames

TammenaTammengaTammes