Surname Tanyhill - Meaning and Origin
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Tanyhill: What does the surname Tanyhill mean?
The last name Tanyhill is derived from an Old English placename which refers to a meadow located on a hill or in a valley. The suffix “hill” indicates a physical feature in the landscape, while “tany” is an Anglo-Saxon term which denotes an enclosure or an area of meadow land that was probably used as pasture.
The surname likely refers to someone who lived near or in a meadow located in a valley or on a hill. Interestingly, the name Tanyhill could have been derived from a family name. It is also possible that it was taken by people who wanted to show off their status by showing that they came from a particular family line, or because it was a name in the area that had become quite popular.
Interestingly, the surname Tanyhill could have started as a nickname. It could have been given to someone who looked, smelled or acted like a valley or a hill, giving them a unique nickname which might have later become a surname.
Overall, the last name Tanyhill likely has its origins in a meadow located on a hill or in a valley. Its etymology could either be derived from a family name, or given to someone as a unique nickname.
Order DNA origin analysisTanyhill: Where does the name Tanyhill come from?
The last name Tanyhill is not common today, but it is most prevalently found in England and Scotland. Some areas with a higher concentration include East Lothian, West Midlands, Lincolnshire, and Worcestershire. Tanyhill is an English and Scottish surname, with a few families also having origins in Ireland. The name is thought to originate from "Tan Hill", a small abandoned settlement in North Yorkshire, England. There are many small variations of the name including Tannyhill, Tannyhil, Tenyhill, and Tenehill.
The first recorded spelling of the name was in 1341 with Richard Amanuel, who was accused of stealing sheep near Tan Hill. Since then, the name has gone through many stages of evolution and can now be found all over England and Scotland. It is a rare name and those with the name can be sure that their ancestry dates back many centuries.
The use of Tanyhill as a surname is still relatively uncommon and unlikely to have a large number of living bearers today. It does remain one of the most interesting and enigmatic names in the British Isles and offers an interesting glimpse into the history of the region.
Variations of the surname Tanyhill
The surname Tanyhill has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Tannyhill, Tonnyhill, Tawnyhill, Tawneyhill, Tannehill, Tennyhill, Tinnyhill, Tunnyhill, Thannyhill, Thonnyhill, Thawnyhill, Thawneyhill, Thannehill, Thunnyhill, Thonnyhill, Dekker, De Ruytere, Denecker, Deniker, Dennecker, Dennyker, Dennykere, De Ruijter, Denekere, Deneker, Dennycker, Dennekere, and Decker.
The surnames Tanyhill and Tannyhill likely derived from the Dutch surname DenEcker—meaning “from Ecker,” which was a small town in Flanders, Belgium—which was later shortened to “Decker.”
The spelling variations “Tawnyhill,” “Tawneyhill,” and “Thawnyhill” may have arisen from the French spelling of “Decker.” “Tinnyhill” and “Tunnyhill” likely arose when the spelling of the name was altered to fit with English pronunciation.
The other variation of this surname, “De Ruijter,” was the Dutch version of the surname which literally translates to “the sailor.” This surname likely referred to someone who was a sailor by profession.
Therefore, all of these spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin can be linked to the surname Tanyhill.
Famous people with the name Tanyhill
- Tommy Tanyhill, radio personality who hosted The Texas Trailblazer Show.
- Jennifer Tanyhill, an American actress known for her roles in films such as Vote, The Last Circuit and And Then There Were none.
- Mervyn Tanyhill, English bishop who served in the Church of England from 1917 to 1934.
- Jodie Tanyhill, an English actress known for TV series such as Little England and Misfits.
- Hugo Tanyhill, an English footballer who played in the Confederation of European Football Association during the 1960’s and 70’s.
- Robert Tanyhill, an English jurist who served as a judge in the Court of Appeal from 1954 to 1982.
- John Tanyhill, an American-born artist known for his watercolor landscapes of the Appalachian Mountains.
- Emily Tanyhill, an American author of books such as Crowns of Courage and Starting from Scratch.
- David Tanyhill, an American journalist known for his investigative work and pioneering coverage of the Columbia River Basin in the late 1970’s.
- Christian Tanyhill, an English-born actor who has appeared in films such as The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.