Surname Tatham - Meaning and Origin
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Tatham: What does the surname Tatham mean?
Tatham is a surname of Old English origin that signifies a familial connection to a particular location. The name Tatham is derived from a place called Tatham in the Lune Valley, Lancashire, England. The place name, Tatham, is believed to be composed of two Old English elements: "taet," meaning "tæt" (rags, tattered clothes) or "tat" (small parcel of land), and "ham," which is commonly understood to mean "homestead" or "village." Therefore, the surname Tatham could mean "homestead where tattered clothes are made" or "homestead with a small parcel of land." It is also possible that the name may have referred to someone who lived near or at such a location. Like many European surnames, this was a descriptive name that originally functioned to distinguish people who lived in close proximity to one another, often by describing an individual's house, estate, farm, or village.
Order DNA origin analysisTatham: Where does the name Tatham come from?
The last name Tatham is a relatively rare last name of English origin. It is most concentrated in the United Kingdom, including large concentrations in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Tatham is also fairly common in Australia, the United States, and Canada.
In England, most people bearing the Tatham name can trace their ancestry back to the division of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria known as the Danelaw. Tatham may be related to the branch of Anglo-Saxon settlement known as the Teutons, people who migrated from the Low Countries to England in the middle of the 9th century.
In the U.S. Census in 2000, only 1,347 people identified themselves as having the surname Tatham, making it one of the more uncommon names in the country. The state of Michigan had the most individuals with this surname with 175, or about 13 percent of the U.S. total.
The surname Tatham is slowly dying out. Today, people of this name are scattered across the United Kingdom, Australia, the U.S., and Canada. Despite its rarity, the name has withstood the test of time as a relic of English settlement since the Middle Ages, a testament to the staying power of one British family name.
Variations of the surname Tatham
The surname Tatham has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the more common variants include Thatham, Thatham, Tattam, Thotton, and Thotan. They are all derived from the same Old English root Thodden meaning “without limit.” Tatham is also related to a number of other surnames including Tatham, Thane, Thorman, Thant, Thome, Tackham, Thorns, Thronner, and Thornborough.
Tatham as a surname can also be found in some places such as Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In these places, it can take on a variety of spellings such as Thaman, Thamann, Thamons, Thamant, Thuma, Tehama, Thima, Tammy, Tilly, Tumer, Tommer and Tholma.
The surname Tatham is thought to originate in the northern parts of England, mostly in the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland. This is due to the fact that Tatham is an ancient family name of Norse-Danish origin. This is evidenced by the fact that there was a place called Tatham in Westmorland and the gentry family of Tatham in Cumberland.
As a result of this, Tatham can be found in directories of the English counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Lancashire, as well as in Scotland. In the United States, the spelling of the surname is more commonly spelled Tatham.
The surname Tatham is a popular one in the North of England, particularly in Yorkshire. There are a few other places from which the surname can be found in the United Kingdom, such as Norfolk, Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Kent, Essex, and Derbyshire, as well as in Wales and Scotland. The surname can also be found in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Spain, and parts of Africa.
Famous people with the name Tatham
- Stuart Tatham: British actor known for roles in documentaries and soap operas.
- Richard Tatham: English cricketer who played for several county cricket sides.
- Ben Tatham: English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Blackpool.
- Mollie Tatham: British actress known for her roles in musical theatre.
- Brian Tatham: Australian actor who starred in Neighbours and Prisoner.
- Margaret Tatham: British author, journalist and broadcaster.
- Christian Tatham: American reality TV star who appeared on the show According to Chris.
- Daniel Tatham: English professional footballer who plays for Southend United.
- Jack Tatham: Australian actor who starred in Night Train to Aspen and The Cross and the Gun.
- Dominic Tatham: British actor, model and presenter who has appeared in numerous films and TV shows.