Surname Tilden - Meaning and Origin

Tilden: What does the surname Tilden mean?

The surname Tilden is of Old English origin and derived from a place name in Kent, England. It is formed from the Old English words "tydel," which means 'to tidy up' or 'dispose of,' and "denu," which means 'valley.' So, Tilden can be interpreted as 'valley where waste is disposed.' This name likely referred to people who lived near or worked in such a place. Over time, it became their family name passed down through generations. Please note that surname meanings can vary, and their original definitions may differ slightly or evolve over centuries. Like many surnames, Tilden serves as a piece of a family's historical identity, and its meaning does not necessarily reflect on current family members.

Tilden: Where does the name Tilden come from?

The last name Tilden is most commonly found today in the United States of America and England. In the United States, the surname is most popular in Ohio. In fact, the Tilden name has been found in records in Ohio since the early 1800s. Other states where the surname appears frequently include Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Florida, California, Arizona, Texas and New Jersey.

The surname is also very popular in England, although it appears to be more concentrated in specific areas. Tildens have been traced to Norwich, Norfolk in records dating back to the mid 17th century. The name is also found in Warwickshire, Hampshire, Lancashire, Wiltshire and Somerset, among other locations.

What's interesting about the Tilden name is that, while it can be traced back to Europe, it is particularly concentrated in certain areas of the United States and England, suggesting that the Tilden family may have had a more strong presence in certain areas than others.

Variations of the surname Tilden

The surname Tilden can have many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants include Tilton, Tilson, Tilstone, Tildon, TIldin, Tilsin, Tildin, Tilkin, Tildan, Tilman, and Tillman.

The variant spellings of the name Tilden are most often found in recordings from early American colonial and civil records, during which many people changed the spelling of their name to match American spelling conventions at the time.

The origin of the surname Tilden is historically rooted in England and is believed to be an Anglo-Saxon name. It originates from the Old English language and is derived from the word 'till' which means valley. It is likely that the surname was originally derived from a location near a valley, hillside, or settlement called Tilde or Tilden.

The Anglo-Norman version of the name—Tildene—was found in documents from late 11th century England and later from Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Northamptonshire.

The cognates of the Tilden surname include Tilden, Tilton, Tilson, Tillman, and Tilman.

The Tilden surname may also be found as a Latinized version in The Domesday Book census of 1086. It appears as Teldune or Tilidune in the Latinized form.

No matter the variant, spelling, or surname of origin, the Tilden name has been a strong family name in England since the 11th century. Its variants, spellings, and surnames of origin have shaped its rich and varied history.

Famous people with the name Tilden

• Sam Tilden: Sam Tilden was a former governor of New York, and was the Democratic presidential candidate in the 1876 election, which was ultimately decided in the Electoral College in favor of Republican Rutherford B. Hayes.
• Mary E. Tilden: Mary E. Tilden was a philanthropist with a mission to support the civic and artistic development of her hometown, Tilden, Wisconsin. She was a major contributor to the establishment of the China Lake Museum in California, and her works on display in several American museums.
• Bill Tilden: Bill Tilden is considered one of the greatest male tennis players of all time. He won 7 Grand Slam Singles titles, and was a Wimbledon Champion. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1976.
• William Tilden II: William Tilden II was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of New Jersey from 1928–1929.
• Walker Tilden: Walker Tilden was an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Leonard Hayman in the 1970 film M*A*S*H.
• Dave Tilden: Dave Tilden was a former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party and a co-founder of the Rural Health Information Hub.
• Paul Tilden: Paul Tilden was an American actor who appeared in several films in the 1930s and 1940s. He was an exceptional comedian, and was known for his roles in movies such as Double Indemnity, Citizen Kane and Life With Father.
• Arthur Tilden: Arthur Tilden was an American Olympic swimmer, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics. He won both Bronze and Silver medals in the 100m and 400m individual races.

Other surnames

Tildesley