Surname Teale - Meaning and Origin
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Teale: What does the surname Teale mean?
The last name Teale is of British origin and is associated with the ancient Celtic culture. It is thought to have originated in Wales and is believed to be derived from the old Welsh word "teg," meaning "fair" or "good." As such, the Teale surname was often given to people who were noted for their kindness and helpfulness.
The Teale name has been linked to several famous and influential members of the British aristocracy. For example, the eighth Earl of Elgin, James Teale, served as the Governor General of Malta from 1775 to 1778. In addition, in more recent times, the Teale name has been well represented in British politics, especially in the seats of Dorset and Cornwall.
Today, the Teale surname is seen across the globe. It is common in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe. As people proudly bear the Teale name, they may have a sense of empowerment based on having an important lineage associated with the powerful families of Britain. As such, this surname represents the honor, respect, and strength within an esteemed line of British ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisTeale: Where does the name Teale come from?
The last name Teale is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland, although it can also be found throughout Europe, North America, and Australia.
In the United Kingdom, the Teale surname originated in Lancashire, where it is still found at higher rates than the rest of the country. It is also quite common in other parts of northern England, such as Yorkshire. In Ireland, the Teale name is found most commonly in counties Mayo, Galway, and Louth.
In the United States, Teale is most commonly found in Virginia, as well as in Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Oregon. There is also a sizable population of Teales in California, particularly in the Bay Area. The name Teale is also found frequently in Canada, particularly in Ontario.
Australia is home to a large population of Teales, many of whom have descended from Irish settlers. The Teale name is most common in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The Teale surname has a long and interesting history, reflecting the movements of its original bearers from England and Ireland to different parts of the world. Today, the last name can be found in significant numbers in many different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Teale
The surname Teale has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Teale itself is derived from the Old English word for 'dell', a steep-sided valley, or more specifically, a valley at the bottom of a hill.
The most common variant of Teale is Teal, with both Teale and Teall also seen. Less common variations include Teell, Tealee, Tealey, and Tealler.
Variants of the Teale surname may have arisen due to misspellings in the records of distant ancestors, or through the influence of other languages. Teal, for example, is the same name as the color, so the spelling may have been changed by someone to better reflect this.
Other spellings may have been inspired by the Teale name itself, with phonetic spelling seen in some cases. It is likely that many of these variants, such as Tealey, Teall, Tealler, and Tealee, are simply the result of changing pronunciation patterns over the centuries.
Additionally, similar surnames such as Teele, Teela, Teel, Teeller, and Teeler may have been adopted by Teale families who wanted a surname with a similar sound. These surnames likely have the same origin as Teale, meaning 'dell', but may have a different geographic source.
Famous people with the name Teale
- Peter Teale: a British actor/director/writer best known for his work on "Broken Man" (2015) and "The Solidarity Poems" (2016).
- David Teale: an Australian actor who was notably in the Channel 10 movie The Boys Are Back (2017).
- Cyril Teale: an Irish actor, writer, and producer who wrote, produced, and starred in the eight-hour film The Turner Trilogy (2015).
- Michael Teale: an English actor who starred in ITV's hit crime drama Maigret (2005-06).
- A.A. Teale: an American writer best known for his science fiction, such as All These Worlds, Glimpses, and Phantoms of Thought (2006-08).
- Zelda Teale: Endeavour (2014-15) and Class (2016) actress.
- Tilly Teale: the youngest of the Teales; an actress who made her debut on the BBC two-part series No Offence ( 2015-17).
- Isabella Teale: an actress and TV presenter at the BBC, known for her roles in EastEnders and The Taming of the Shrew (2011).
- Maeve Teale: an Irish actress best known for her roles in Ripper Street (2012–16) and Game of Thrones (2012–13).
- Lord Claude Teale: British politician who served as Member of Parliament for Suffolk from 1919 to 1929.