Surname Terpin - Meaning and Origin
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Terpin: What does the surname Terpin mean?
The last name Terpin is of Germanic origin and has many variations, such as Terpan, Tarpen, Terpening, Terpstra and Terpana. It is believed that the name derives from the Old German term terpand, meaning“raised ground.” This likely refers to the ancient, walled towns or manors that were built on higher ground across Germany and other surrounding countries.
Today, bearers of the Terpin surname can be found scattered across Germany, Slovakia, Albania, and the Netherlands.
In the past, many of the individuals with the Terpin surname were employed as farmers, soldiers, merchants, and tradesman. In Germany, the name was especially popular in the Lower Saxony area of the country. Those of the Terpin surname who emigrated to North America settled in several states, including New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
The Terpin surname can be seen throughout history in various records. One example is that of Elske Terpening, a free woman of color who was born in 1750 in New York. Likewise, Johann Terpning was listed as a passenger on the passenger list of the Johanette, which departed from Bremen and arrived in New York in May of 1854.
Today, the name Terpin is still quite common and can be found worldwide. It continues to serve as a reminder of the family’s Germanic roots and of those who have carried the name from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisTerpin: Where does the name Terpin come from?
The last name Terpin is not a common surname today. It appears to have been most popular in Austria and Czechoslovakia in the 19th century, with some presence in parts of Hungary, Romania, and Germany. It is also present in the United States with a few hundred Terpins listed in the U.S. census records.
Terpin is primarily a Jewish surname, which is thought to have originated in Austria with the Yiddish word "terp" meaning "tribe". This suggests that the Terpin family may have come to Europe from the Middle East or the Mediterranean.
The last name Terpin is today most common in Israel, where there is a significant presence of the surname. This is likely because many of those with the last name were part of the great migration of Jews to Israel that took place in the 1950s and 60s. It is also found in South Africa, the United States, and Canada as well.
In North America, most Terpins appear to have settled in larger cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. For instance, a search for Terpin in the 1940 U.S. census turns up more than 70 people living in New York City alone.
No matter where the Terpin surname is found today, it is clear that it has a rich history – it began as a tribal indicator in the Middle East and spread throughout Europe and beyond over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Terpin
The surname Terpin is one of many variations of the surname that originated as a nickname for a “mop-haired” person. Depending on which language the name was taken from, the spelling, pronunciation, and variants of the surname Terpin can vary.
The most common spellings include Torpin, Thorpin, Terpin, Turpin, Tharpin, Tarpin, Tarpin, and Terpening. Other spellings used in different cultures that stem from the same origin include Tourpin, Tharpein, Torpane, Torpening, Turpening, Tharping, Turpenning, Terpine, and Terpening.
Surname variants and alternate versions of Terpin often trace back to the Middle Ages and generally follow standard English language conventions of spelling variations. For example, Thorpin might stem from Thorpe, Turpin from Turp, and Torpin from Torp.
In some cultures, having multiple surnames for family members can be a sign of wealth and status. For example, variations of Terpin such as Terpening, Tourpenning, and Tharping could indicate families that had come from a higher social class or had become much wealthier in a relatively short amount of time.
The surname Terpin is still used in several countries around the world today and is most common in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Austria.
Famous people with the name Terpin
- Bruce Terpin: American Entrepreneur
- Mark Terpin: American Musician
- Edward Terpin: Russian Actor
- Art Terpin: Polish Architect
- Eitan Terpin: Israeli Playwright
- John Terpin: African-American Civil Rights Activist
- Brenda Terpin: American Poet
- Joseph Terpin: American Screenwriter
- Carl Terpin: Irish Politician
- Grant Terpin: Canadian Economist