Surname Teets - Meaning and Origin

Teets: What does the surname Teets mean?

The origin of the surname Teets is a Germanic one and is derived from the Old High German word "tiuz," meaning "titmouse" or "tit." It is likely an occupational name originally given to someone involved in trapping songbirds.

In the Middle Ages, trapping birds was a lucrative business as the plump little birds were used as a delicacy. The Teets family likely worked in this trade as they traveled across Medieval Europe. Additionally, the Teets family may have been connected to falconry, as taker and keeper of birds of prey. Both these trades would require people skilled in the art of trapping, and the Teets family may have been amongst the earliest and best of these experts.

The Teets surname can also be found across countries such as England, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, United states and Canada. In these countries, the Teets family have taken up many professions, from military service to farming, and the surname often takes on slight variations to fit different dialects, such as Tietz, or Taylor.

The Teets family, over the centuries, have shown themselves to be strong-minded and hardworking. In this time of global travel, it is possible to find Teets families all over the world, keeping alive the legacy of a family of bird trappers from centuries past.

Teets: Where does the name Teets come from?

The last name Teets is most commonly found in the United States today. Data from the US Census Bureau indicates that, in 2020, the surname Teets was most prevalent in Pennsylvania, where it ranked as the 897th most common surname statewide. Pennsylvania is closely followed by California, where it ranked 1,893rd most common, and Florida, where it was the 4,575th most common surname. Outside of the US, Teets is found moderately frequently in Canada, especially in the states of Ontario and Alberta, and is also common in Australia.

The earliest documented use of the Teets surname was found in North-Western Germany in the 18th century, indicating that the name likely has Germanic origins. The German word "teit" translates to mean timorous or shy, hinting at the possible origin of the surname.

Despite being a fairly uncommon name, Teets families have maintained a strong presence in various parts of North America over the past few centuries. Today, descendants of the Teets surname can be found living in rural and urban areas alike, often in close proximity to each other. This statistic holds true for many of the areas in the US and Canada where the name is most prevalent.

Variations of the surname Teets

The surname Teets is a variation of the English name Tate, and it can be found in various spellings and variants. In the United States, Teets is probably the most common spelling, although Tietes and Tiez are also seen. However, in other countries, such as England, it is usually spelt Tate.

Other variants of the surname Tate include Tait, Tail, Teal, Teel, Teale, Teil, Teile, Teas, Teasle, Teese, Teeth, Teetle, Teitel, Tetley, Teat and Tead. In Germany, Teits also exists, while in France it is spelt Teisse.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the surnames Telfer, Televar, Tilber and Tillson have been found to have derived from the original name Tate. Similarly, the surnames Titshall and Tibbles are believed to have derived from the ancient name Teat.

The surname Teets originates from the Old French or Norman French name de Tates, which was used as a patronymic by a person who was descended from someone named Tate. In turn, Tate itself is derived from the Old French word "tate", meaning "cheerful".

There are numerous different combinations of the surname, thanks to its widespread global usage. Ultimately, whether it is spelt Teets or one of its many variations, the name all derives from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Teets

• Taran Teets: Taran Teets is an American actress, best known for her roles in the films Love and Honor (2013) and Trophy Kids (2014). She has also had roles on television series such as The Glades (2010) and Nashville (2012).
• Corporal Trevor Teets: Corporal Trevor Teets is a United States Marine Corps veteran, best known for his heroism during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He continues to serve even after his injuries, as a motivational speaker and advocate for military service members.
• J.T. Teets: Author and activist J.T. Teets is the author of the book, Breaking the Silence: Repurposing Trauma for Hope and Healing. A survivor of trauma himself, Teets uses his book to share his expertise dealing with loss and suffering after suffering his own personal hardships. 4.2019 Miss Utah, Quincy Teets: Quincy Teets is best known for being the 2019 Miss Utah, a beauty pageant titleholder. Since being crowned, Quincy has worked hard to raise awareness and money for cancer patients, having lost a senior year high school friend to cancer and experienced the grief of cancer within her family.
• R David Teets: R David Teets is an American film producer, best known for having produced the popular films Shrek Forever After (2010), How To Train Your Dragon (2010) and Battle for Terra (2007). Teets also served as the executive producer for the popular animated films Megamind (2010) and Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
• D.J. Teets: D.J. Teets is a professional Bourdon Pong Organization (BPO) player, and is one of the biggest names in the sport. He has won numerous tournaments since beginning his career in 2004, and his success is down to his creativity and skill on the table.

Other surnames

TeeterTeeters