Surname Tirkenton - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tirkenton: What does the surname Tirkenton mean?
The last name Tarkenton is of Anglo-Saxon origin and it emerged from when families in the Middle Ages lived in the region of Thorkington in the county of Lincolnshire, England. Despite its seeming connection to the Nordic name "Thor," the etymology of Tarkenton is not well documented, thus making it difficult to determine any definitive meaning.
Names during the Middle Ages were often given based on a person's job or the place where they lived, so Tarkenton could potentially mean "from Thorkington." It is also worth noting that this surname was likely influenced by the Viking invasions of England from the 8th to the 11th centuries, as suggested by the "Thor" element in its composition.
One of the most notable people with the surname Tarkenton is Fran Tarkenton, a former professional American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), known for his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. His achievements have helped popularize the Tarkenton surname in the U.S. and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisTirkenton: Where does the name Tirkenton come from?
The surname Tirkenton is believed to be most commonly found in Germany, particularly in Bavaria, according to surname analysis by last name distribution. The name is believed to have originated in this region, and appears to have its roots in the German language, most likely deriving from Germanic elements meaning “strong” or “mighty.”
Tirkenton is also more commonly found in the United States, where it is thought to have established itself during the period of German immigration to America in the late 19th century. It is mainly concentrated in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Ohio, though it is not uncommon to find it in other states as well. For instance, California has seen a slight rise in the number of individuals with the Tirkenton surname since 2000.
The name is also found in smaller concentrations throughout other countries, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. In Canada, the name is most common in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba. In the UK, there have been reports of Tirkenton families from Buckinghamshire, Worcester, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and throughout England and Wales.
Variations of the surname Tirkenton
The surname Tirkenton is of English origin and can also be found spelled as Turkinton, Turkington, Torkington, or Tuckington. This last variant is common in northern England, particularly in the counties of Westmorland and Lancashire, while the other names are more commonly found in central and southern England.
Tirkenton is thought to have originated from “Torkinton” or “Torkington”, derived from the English place names “Torkington” in Greater Manchester; “Turkington” and “Torkington” in Derbyshire; and “Turkington” in Shropshire. These place names are presumed to be derived from the Old English personal name “Thurca”, which is a combination of the elements “thurh”, meaning “strength” and “ca”, meaning “man” or “warrior”.
Turkinton is common in Yorkshire and is thought to originate from “Torkington”, while “Tuckington” is found mainly in Somerset and is possibly a variant of the placename “Tukington”.
“Tirkenton” itself is used most commonly found in Bucks county, what is now Buckinghamshire; the name is derived from the Old English word “ticen”, meaning ‘house” or “dwelling”.
Variations of Tirkenton, including Turkinton, Torkington, Turkington, and Tuckington, are found sporadically in other counties throughout England, as well as to a lesser extent in the United States.
Whether spelled as Tirkenton or one of its variants, the surname is typically associated with individuals of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Tirkenton
- Gordon Tirkenton: Canadian Football League Hall of Famer, two-time Grey Cup champion.
- Andrew Tirkenton: Australian artist best known for his work in collage and assemblages.
- Stephen Tirkenton: American children's book author and illustrator.
- Hans Tirkenton: Austrian Olympic ski jumper.
- Anton Tirkenton: Russian mixed martial artist.
- Charles Tirkenton: British obstacle race athlete and winner of both the London and Beijing Marathon.
- Hailey Tirkenton: American actress with roles in popular TV series like Supernatural, Shameless, and Ray Donovan.
- Melodie Tirkenton: Canadian singer and songwriter.
- Brad Tirkenton: American professional rodeo cowboy.
- Matt Tirkenton: Former British national basketball player.