Surname Tellinghast - Meaning and Origin
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Tellinghast: What does the surname Tellinghast mean?
The last name Tellinghast is of German-Dutch origin and is derived from the combination of two words – tellen (“to count”) and huys (“house”). This combination translates roughly to “House of Counting” and is thought to refer to someone who held some form of administrative or financial counting role in a past time.
An alternative interpretation of the name is the combination of tellen (“to count”) and hast (“haste”). This interpretation implies the ancestors of this respective family name possessed a drive and ambition to get things accomplished quickly and effectively.
The surname Tellinghast is most commonly found in the Northwestern region of Germany and is still carried by many families around this area of the world. It can also be found sporadically around the world in countries such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom due to the various immigrations that have taken place over the past few centuries.
Overall, the surname Tellinghast most likely originated from someone in a financial or administrative role in the past, and has been passed down through generations of families over the years. The literal translation of the name - House of Counting - perfectly summarises the history of this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisTellinghast: Where does the name Tellinghast come from?
The last name Tellinghast is an English surname with origins in Devon. Today, it is still present in some areas of England, particularly in Southwest England where it has been since the early 13th century. It is also found throughout many parts of the United States, primarily in New England. Tellinghast is especially common in Connecticut and Massachusetts, likely due to numerous colonial and Puritan immigrants from the region, as well as those who may have relocated back to the area. Additionally, due to modern migration patterns, the surname can be found in other parts of the United States and even in other countries around the world.
Historically, the last name has had numerous variations including as Tellinge, Tellingo, and Tellings, likely resulting from misspellings. Especially prevalent in early church records, these variations are now often used in locating information about a Tellinghast ancestor.
The last name is also very popular among those who actively research their family history, with numerous genealogy-related message boards and websites connecting individuals with Tellinghast ancestors from all over the world. This forms an intricate community online, offering valuable tips to finding related family records, as well as meeting distant relatives. Similarly, numerous genealogy-focused organizations exist to help trace an individual's ancestral line, many of which can trace the Tellinghast name back centuries.
Variations of the surname Tellinghast
The surname Tellinghast originated in the Netherlands in the 1800s, and is derived from the Dutch word for 'field' (tel). It is a patronymic name, meaning 'son of Tel', and has several variants and spellings, including: Tellinghausen, Tellinghause, Tellinghaeuser, Tellinghaus, Tellinhausen, Tellinhause, Tellinhaus, Tellinhauer, Tellenhuese, Tellenhuser, Tellhause, Tellhauser, Tellhausen, Tellhause, Tellhaus, Tellhausler, and Tellhouser.
Variants of the name are most commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The spelling Tellinghast is considered to be the most common form of the surname in English-speaking countries, but some sources also list alternative spellings such as Tellinghaus, Tellinhause and Tellenhuse.
In some cases, the surname Tellinghast has been shortened to the form Tell. This is especially true in the Netherlands, where the surname is often abbreviated to Tel. In other cases, the surname may have been altered to Soundinghast and other similar forms.
The surname is especially common in the United States and Canada, where it was brought to by immigrants in the 19th century. The United States Census of 2000 documented the presence of over 800 people with the surname Tellinghast in the United States.
Famous people with the name Tellinghast
- Albert Tellinghast: Actor with many appearances in TV and films, most notably appearing in Blade Runner 2049
- David Tellinghast: American painter and founder of the School of Representational Art
- Christine Tellinghast: Vice President of Marketing at American Express
- Liz Tellinghast: Former award-winning journalist and author
- Kate Tellinghast: Editor of Style & Living Magazine
- Chad Tellinghast: Basketball coach for the Duke Blue Devils
- Mark Tellinghast: Best Selling Author and Entrepreneur
- Charles Tellinghast: Retired musician and professor emeritus of music theory, composition, and painting at the University of North Carolina
- Brady Tellinghast: Professional golfer on the PGA Tour
- Brad Tellinghast: Award-winning cinematographer and musician