Surname Tawes - Meaning and Origin

Tawes: What does the surname Tawes mean?

The last name Tawes is derived from a place-name in Normandy, France. The surname Tawes is believed to have originated from a location in the English county of Devon called Tawe, meaning 'river' in the regional dialect.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Tawes comes from 1230, in the form "Tau", with one John Tawes listed as a landholder in the village of Wheston in Devon.

The first documented use of the spelling 'Tawes' is found in the Heralds Visitation of Devon which dates back to 1620. In this visitation, John Tawes is documented as the living holder of a heraldic crest from the village of Wheston.

The name Tawes has been known to be used in both England and North America, and takes on a variety of different spellings, such as Taws, Towes, Taues, Teues, Toues, and Tauws.

The Tawes surname is believed to be derived from the Norman French name "Tau", and in early Anglo-Saxon times, was often used to refer to a person from the region near the river Tawe. This region was historically known as the 'Tawe Valley' and was located along the English coastline, extending to parts of northeast Devon.

Overall, the last name Tawes is an old English topographical name, meaning people from or living near a river. It is thought to have developed from the Old French word "tau", which means river, riverbank or small waterway.

Tawes: Where does the name Tawes come from?

The last name Tawes is most commonly associated with Maryland. It is a frequent last name in areas such as Somerset and Worcester counties, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It appears many times in records including the census records of 1880 and 1910. It has also been found in other parts of the U.S. such as Washington, D.C., Virginia, and even some parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana. It is possible that it originates from Native American ancestry, as there are some records of a tribe called the Tawase or Tawas living in these areas. It is also possible that the name is of European origin as there are some records indicating families with this last name whose family line originated from England and other parts of Great Britain.

Today, the last name Tawes is still alive and well, and the family line continues to spread. One can still find the name in Maryland, but also now in other states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and even Arkansas. This suggests that the name has moved around the U.S. over time, as families have moved for jobs, education, or other life changes. As a result, the Tawes family line is still alive and spread across the country and likely to continue for many more generations.

Variations of the surname Tawes

The surname Tawes has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variations are Tawse, Taws, Tauss, Touse, and Tausses.

Tawes is believed to have originated in the Scottish Borders region. The origin of the name is likely derived from the Old English term "taews", which meant "hedge or fence". Alternatively, the spelling of the name may be derived from an Old French word meaning “border”.

Tawes may also be variant spellings of Tauss or Touse. These names are believed to have similar roots and can also be spelled Taus, Taues, Thauss, or Thoul.

In Ireland, a derivative of the Tawes surname is Toole. The Toole surname is derived from the Irish "O Tuathal", which translates to "descendant of Tuathal," a Celtic personal name meaning "people's prince".

In England, Tawes is also found as Towes or Tows. These surnames could be traced back to the Old English name “Tawa,” which describes a person who lived near an eddy, or small whirlpool.

Tawes is also commonly spelled as Tawse, Taws, Tauss, Thauss, Thoul, or Tolles. The spelling of the name will vary depending on the region and the language of origin.

Overall, the surname Tawes has several different Spellings and surnames that may arise from the same root word or similar concepts.

Famous people with the name Tawes

• William Preston Lane, Jr., 22nd Governor of Maryland
• Charles Lee Tawes, 33rd Governor of Maryland
• Bill Tawes, former Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources
• Lloyd Jefferson Tawes, former Adjutant General of Maryland's National Guard
• John Milton Tawes, Jr., former Maryland Supreme Court justice
• Millard E. Tawes, former Maryland Attorney General
• Dudley Martin Tawes, former Maryland Hereditary Order of Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
• Belle Tawes, former suffragette and first woman to serve on the Maryland State Board of Fisheries
• Robert E. Tawes, former Maryland Senate President
• Martin Bramble Tawes, former state treasurer and Maryland Senate Majority Leader
• Henry C. Tawes, former Maryland Senate President
• Richard M. Tawes, former Maryland Governor's author

Other surnames

TawesonTawesson