Surname Tannihill - Meaning and Origin
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Tannihill: What does the surname Tannihill mean?
The surname Tannahill is of Scottish origin. It is believed to be a habitational name derived from a place near Paisley, in Renfrewshire. The name composed of two parts: the Gaelic term "tana," meaning "small," and "coill," meaning "wood." Therefore, the last name translates to "small wood" or "underwood." The name Tannahill would have probably initially been given to someone who lived near a small forest or grove. Renowned people with this surname are Robert Tannahill, a celebrated Scottish poet from the 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisTannihill: Where does the name Tannihill come from?
The surname Tannihill is not very common today, but is found primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States. The earliest known recordings of the Tannihill name in the form of Tannihill can be traced back to the mid 13th century when William de Tanahill was recorded in the Friary Rolls of Scotland in 1292.
In the 19th century, the name Tannihill can be found primarily in the counties of Kilmarnock, Girvan, Air, and Wigtown in Scotland. During this time, the name was also present in Cumbria, in the North West of England. There is also a small concentration of Tannihills in Dublin, Ireland.
In the United States, the Tannihill family is believed to have arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. By the mid-19th century, the Tannihill family had settled primarily in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
It is difficult to put an exact figure on how many people today bear the surname Tannihill. It may still be found in the areas mentioned in this article, but with many individuals having changed the spelling of the name in recent generations, it is not as easily identifiable as it once was.
Variations of the surname Tannihill
The variants for the surname Tannihill include: Tanahill, Tennihill, Tinnihill, Tarynhill, Tarnhill, and Tannahill.
The most common spellings of this surname are Tannihill and Tennihill, which are both derived from the Old English "tan" meaning small tree or bush. In some parts of Ireland, the surname is also spelled as Tanahill.
The surname Tannihill is found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is most prevalent in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, where it was first found in the 1880s. In the 1800s Tannihill immigrants settled mainly in Illinois, Maryland, Louisiana, and New York.
The anglicized form of the Tannihill surname is O'Tannihill, derived from the Gaelic “Ó tSionnach” or fox. This surname is still common in parts of Ireland.
Variant spellings include Tinnihill, Tarynhill, and Tarnhill. Originally, Tinnihill was used to refer to someone living in Tinnihill Castle, and by the 1700s the Tinnihill surname was found in parts of England.
Tarynhill is a variant spelling of Tannihill found predominately in Canada. The surname Tannahill is derived from the Scottish spelling of Tannihill, and is most commonly found in parts of Canada and New Zealand.
Overall, the Tannihill surname has many variants and spellings in different parts of the world, but all are derived from the original Old English roots.
Famous people with the name Tannihill
- Kyle Tannihill: Professional Canadian football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL).
- Eric Tannihill: Actor who has made appearances in major television shows such as "NYPD Blue" and "EastEnders".
- William Tannihill: Scottish artist known for his portrait painting and landscape work.
- Gavin Tannihill: Lead vocalist and guitarist of indie rock band Bells Atlas, which released their debut album Atlas worldwide in 2018.
- Steven Tannihill: Leader of the '90s rock band "The Miracle Dolls". He has also produced TV shows like "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling" and "Sanford and Son".
- Albert Tannihill: Renowned Broadway director responsible for productions like "West Side Story" and "My Fair Lady."
- Jill Tannihill: Jazz & classical singer praised by critics for her definitive yet elegant vocal performances.
- April Tannihill: Actress and director in Hollywood's independent film industry since the early 1990s, popularly known for her award-winning film "The Waiting Hours."
- Martin Tannihill: Celebrated American author who has written books about nature and written books exploring identities.
- Leanne Tannihill: Professional golfer who competed regularly in tournaments on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.