Surname Tempest - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tempest: What does the surname Tempest mean?
The last name Tempest is of English origin and is a form of the word 'tempeste.' It is derived from the Old French word meaning “storm” or “wild weather.” This name is typically associated with a history of turbulent weather, suggesting a family living in an area of strong winds, storms, and perhaps rain.
The Tempest surname also has associations with England's public approval of stormy weather, typically conjuring up images of the seafaring age in which boats relied on the power of the sea winds. Sometimes a Tempest family may have adapted to the might of the elements and lived near a coastal area, taking advantage of the winds.
The Tempest family may also be associated with the weather in other ways. For example, the surname could be connected to efforts centuries ago to predict the weather or farm crops in an area prone to storms. The Tempest family could even have descendants who earned fame as sailors who never feared a storm - quite the opposite.
The Tempest surname also has some literary associations and may be related to Shakespeare's famous play The Tempest, thought to be his last. In the play, the characters include the title character, Tempest, who rules over a magical island. This may have been an attempt to immortalize a unique and possibly turbulent family who lived before and during his time.
Order DNA origin analysisTempest: Where does the name Tempest come from?
The last name Tempest is most commonly found in the United Kingdom where it originated. It especially concentrated in the city of London, where there are over 863 individuals with the surname registered in the current Electoral Roll.
The name is also well-represented in northern England, particularly in the North West, in counties such as Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and Cheshire, but the number of individuals with the surname is significantly lower – with between 20 and 70 registered in each of these counties.
It has also spread to parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, and holds a small presence in mainland Europe, particularly in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Outside of Europe, the surname has a presence in the United States, particularly in major cities such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The family even spread as far as Australia and Canada, though it is not as commonly found in those countries compared to the UK.
Variations of the surname Tempest
The surname Tempest is derived from either Old French or Anglo-Norman French and it can be spelled several ways, depending on the region and language. Some common variants include Tempost, Tempeste, Tempist, Temptest, Tempeest, Templeste, Tempestt, Temprist, and Tempestt. The surname is also noted to have evolved from alternative variants, such as Temps, Tempes, and Temppes.
Apart from these, there are also a few other surnames of similar origin, such as Temes, Tempess, Tempex, Tempsett, Tempus, and Tempick. Migration to other countries also saw the surname evolve in different ways, such as Tempy, Tembis, Tempaix, and Temprons.
In some cases, small changes were made to the spelling of the surname to allow for variation, such as Tempesd, Tempesd or Tempesta.
In addition, the surname Tempest has also been recorded in some other anglicized forms, such as Templest, Tempst, Tempwst, Temford, Temple, Templer, Tamplor, Templier, and Tempester. It has been noted that the Tempester spelling is particularly common in the United States and Canada.
Overall, the surname Tempest is an interesting one due to the multitude of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin it has acquired over time. It is a testament to the beautiful complexity of family histories across the globe.
Famous people with the name Tempest
- Sarah Tempest: writer, filmmaker, and significant voice in the British TV industry.
- Betsy Tempest: well-known British businesswoman.
- Jacob Tempest: a Broadway actor renowned for his work in musicals and stage plays.
- Tom Tempest: a popular comic book artist known for his work on the Darkwing Duck franchise.
- William Tempest: a designer who has been recognized for his work in apparel and accessory design.
- Nigel Tempest: a contemporary painter and sculptor, whose works have been collected by galleries and museums around the world.
- Emma Tempest: founder and CEO of the creative digital agency Tempest and the Tempest Online Network.
- Ben Tempest: a famous actor who has won several awards for his work in both film and theater.
- Paige Tempest: an esteemed filmmaker whose documentaries have been nominated for an Academy Award.
- Colin Tempest: an emergent British composer specializing in soundtracks and scores for TV and film.