Surname Tamminga - Meaning and Origin
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Tamminga: What does the surname Tamminga mean?
The surname ‘Tamminga’ is one of Dutch origins and is derived from the word ‘tam’, which can be translated to mean ‘quiet’ or ‘silent’. The name itself literally means ‘of the quiet one’, and was originally used as a nickname for someone who was very calm and peaceful.
This origin of the name originates from the Middle Ages, when people didn’t have family names, but were known by their occupation, physical characteristics, nicknames or where they came from. As such, someone who was very quiet might have been known as ‘Tamminga’.
There is no singular origin to the name, as it is thought to have arisen independently in a number of places in the Netherlands. It is thought that the name may have originally been a Frisian name, given to someone who came from a place which was known for its calm and peacefulness.
The first recorded usage of the name occurred around 1600, and over the past four centuries it has adapted and changed slightly, with the form ‘Tamminga’ becoming increasingly popular. Today, it is found across many countries, and is used by many people.
Regardless of its origin, the name ‘Tamminga’ has become associated with someone who is associated with peace and tranquillity, a quality that many people strive for. It is an interesting surname that is full of history and personality.
Order DNA origin analysisTamminga: Where does the name Tamminga come from?
The last name Tamminga is found in countries all around the world today. Originally of Dutch-Frisian origins, the name is most common in Holland and Scandinavia, with sizable populations also found in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Holland, the surname Tamminga is one of the top 1,000 most common names, and is particularly popular in the province of Friesland and the cities of Utrecht and Zwolle. In the United States, the last name is thought to have been brought over by Dutch immigrants primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries. New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin have the highest concentrations of individuals with the surname Tamminga in the US today.
In Australia, the name Tamminga is especially common in the state of Victoria, where more than 300 people bearing the name live today. In New Zealand, roughly 100 people now have the surname, primarily in the cities of Auckland and Christchurch. As a whole, the Tamminga name is thought to have been borne by around 10,000 people in the last 100 years, with the most concentrated populations in the countries of its origin - Holland and Scandinavia.
Variations of the surname Tamminga
The surname Tamminga is an old Dutch surname, whose origins are traced back to 16th century Frisian times. This surname is found today with various spellings, variants and surnames which evolved from the original Dutch surname. The most common spellings of the last name are Tamminga, Tamming, Tammingh, Damming, Damminga, Tammingha and Dammingha.
Variants of the surname are Tamme, Todd, Tomme, Danme, Domm, Doms, Domme and Donne. These variants have changed and varied in different regions over time, with some changing in spelling due to different dialects and regional nuances.
The surname has also been Anglicized to Tomming, Tommingh, Damon, Damons, Damond, Deam, Demmes, Deamme, Deeming, Taming and Tamen.
The families with the Tamminga surname have also bred with other Dutch lines over the centuries, resulting in some double-barreled surnames such as Tamminga de Wit (de Wit being a Dutch surname in its own right which means ‘the white one’).
One branch of the Tamminga family tree is now found in South Africa, with many variations on the surname including Tamms, Tamm, Tamming, Toering, Tamming, Toerings, Tamme and Tammings; while in the United States, the spelling Tamm is most common.
The spelling of the name has been fragmented by different spellings used by bearers of the surname, with some having even dropped the traditional ‘M’ from the name altogether, resulting in forms such as Tamnga, Tamiga and Taminga.
No matter what spelling or how the name has been altered, all these variants, spellings and surnames can be traced back to the original Dutch surname Tamminga.
Famous people with the name Tamminga
- Cornell Tamminga: Dutch choreographer and television personality
- Wilco Tamminga: Dutch organist, improviser and composer
- Trienke Tamminga: Dutch politician, former party leader of the Livable Netherlands party
- Marinus Tamminga: Dutch astronomer and asteroid discoverer
- Pieter Tamminga: Dutch writer and artist
- Jouke Tamminga: Dutch Olympic field hockey player
- Maria Tamminga: Dutch artist and illustrator
- Maleine Tamminga: Dutch Olympic hurdler
- Annika Tamminga: Dutch model
- Machteld Tamminga: Dutch lawyer and politician