Surname Tirkington - Meaning and Origin
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Tirkington: What does the surname Tirkington mean?
The last name Tirkington is of English origin, thought to be derived from the Old English Torkinton, which is derived from the words “torc” for fox, and “ing” for people or tribe with the “ton” suffix being a settlement or home. This suggests Tirkington was likely a place inhabited by a fox-loving group of people who had a home there for a significant period of time.
The surname has likely been around for centuries. Historically, Tirkingtons have been landholders and agriculturalists, many of whom are found primarily in the counties of Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire in the English Midlands.
In modern times, the surnames Tirkington and Torkington can both be found all over the world. There are Tirkingtons in the United States, Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, and most other countries with populations of English-speaking people.
Today, the Tirkingtons bear many of the same values their ancestors did: independence, loyalty and a great respect for the land and countryside. While the physicality of the home of the Tirkingtons may have changed over time, it is clear that the families’ traits and values have stayed strong.
Order DNA origin analysisTirkington: Where does the name Tirkington come from?
The last name Tirkington is not common today, but can be found in certain areas of the United Kingdom, mainly in England and Wales. The family is believed to have originated in Northamptonshire England in the early 1600’s. Its early presence in this part of the country is possibly linked to William the Conqueror’s invasion of the region in 1066 and subsequent Norman settlement which occurred in the following centuries.
To this day, there are many family members with the surname living in Northamptonshire, as well as in the surrounding counties of Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. There is also an estimate of around 20 families living in different parts of the United States, primarily in the Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan.
Family members with this surname are believed to have immigrated to the United States during the 19th century, either to take advantage of the establishment of the Midwestern states or to escape unfavorable economic conditions in England at the time.
It is unclear how many present-day people in the United Kingdom and United States have the last name Tirkington, however, it is believed that there is still a small population of families who have this surname. It could be that the last name has become less common over time due to intermarriage with other family names, or due to the emigration of the Tirkington families to other countries.
Variations of the surname Tirkington
The surname Tirkington is of British origin and is derived from the Old English words “tīr”, meaning ‘tithe,’ and “tun”, meaning ‘enclosure’ or ‘settlement’. Therefore, it refers to a person who lived in a settlement or was given a tithe. It is most commonly found in England, particularly in the southern and eastern regions.
Variants of the surname Tirkington include Tirkinton, Tyrkinton, Terkington, Torkinton, and Tyrrington. Alternative spellings include Turkington, Thrkington, and Torkkinton.
Surnames of similar origin include Tickelton, Tirks, Tirksy, Tirk, Tichington, Tichin, and Tichings. People with these surnames often come from the same area as those with the surname Tirkington. People with variants of the same surname can often trace their genealogy back to a common ancestor.
Another variant of the surname Tirkington is Tirkett. This variant is derived from the Old English “tircettan,” which means ‘threshing-floor.’ It is most commonly found in northern England and Scotland.
People with the surname Tirkington are descendents of an old Anglo-Saxon family dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have first appeared in records in the 13th century, with the earliest record being of a Robert de Turkington in 1221. The name has spread to other parts of the world, with records of Tirkingtons in America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Tirkington
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