Surname Tarkington - Meaning and Origin
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Tarkington: What does the surname Tarkington mean?
The surname Tarkington is of English origin and is believed to be locational, coming from a place name. Many surnames of this type were derived from areas, villages, or hamlets. However, no locality with a name similar to Tarkington is found in current or ancient maps and records of England. This suggests that the place from which this last name originated could have been a very small or unregistered hamlet that has since disappeared or changed its name. This phenomenon, also known as a "lost medieval village," is quite common in the British Isles.
The naming could also stem from the personal name, "Tarkin," combined with the suffix "-ton," meaning a town or settlement in Old English. Most likely, the name was given to individuals who lived in a settlement associated with or owned by a person named Tarkin.
The name is quite rare and most famously associated with Booth Tarkington, a renowned American novelist and playwright in the first half of the 20th century who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice.
Order DNA origin analysisTarkington: Where does the name Tarkington come from?
The last name Tarkington is most common in the United States and Canada today. It is derived from a small town called Tarkington in Indiana, where the original settler of the name hailed from. This means the last name is mainly found in the contemporary descendants of those individuals.
Tarkington can also be found in England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of these occurrences, however, can be traced back to emigration of families from the United States and Canada.
In the United States, individuals with the surname Tarkington are concentrated mainly in the states of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. However, due to its increasing popularity, Tarkington can be found in almost every state.
In terms of other countries, Tarkington is notably popular in Canada, especially in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. It can also be found in pockets of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia but in much smaller concentrations compared to its presence in the U.S and Canada.
The surname Tarkington is becoming increasingly common in recent times as people of mixed racial backgrounds choose it as a part of their true identity. This could be attributed to its prestigious heritage and easy spelling.
Variations of the surname Tarkington
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of Tarkington include:
Tarkington, Tarkinton, Tarkentine, Tarkintonne, Torkington, Torkinton, Torkenton, Torkintone, Tarkintyne, Tawkington, Tawkinton, Tawkentine, Tawkintyne, Torkintyne, Torkintenne, Tarckington, Tarcourt, Tarcourtne, Tartington, Tartingtonne, Tartintine, Tartintyne, Tarrington, Tarringten, Tarringtinne, Tarringtyne, Torrington, Torringten, Torringtinne, Torringtyne, Tarenton, Tarentyne, Tarckyntyne, Tarcyntine, Tarcyntyne, Tarsington, Tarsingtonne, Tarsintine, Tarsintyne, Tarskinton, Tarskintyne.
These variants and spellings of the Tarkington surname are derived from the Old English words “torc”, meaning boar, and “tun”, meaning settlement. Therefore, literally it can be interpreted to mean “a settlement where boar can be found”. The surname was most likely first used to refer to someone who lived near a wild boar reserve. Over time, these specially modified surnames have been used as a means of distinguishing families from one another.
Most Tarkington families originate from the United Kingdom, particularly England and Ireland. Today, the surname can also be found in other parts of Europe and the United States, although families with this name may not necessarily be of the same origin. In the United States, it is most often found in states such as Kentucky, California, and Ohio.
Famous people with the name Tarkington
- Booth Tarkington: American novelist, dramatist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams.
- Nora Dabney Tarkington: American socialite, philanthropist, and author associated with the Southern Wolf and Hound Club.
- John Tarkington: American artist known for his surrealist-style artworks.
- Hardy Tarkington: American politician and former Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi.
- Will Tarkington: former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who played for the Boston Red Sox.
- Anne Tarkenton: American business strategist, venture capitalist, and founder and CEO of Her Business Revolution.
- Kimberly Tarkington: American singer, songwriter, and record producer.
- John Garfield Tarkington: father of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Booth Tarkington and brother of Charles Tarkington, an American humorist.
- Robert Tarkington: professional boxer who competed in the featherweight division during the 1930s.
- Robert Tarkington House: historic home located in Wilmington, North Carolina.