Surname Torkenton - Meaning and Origin
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Torkenton: What does the surname Torkenton mean?
The surname Torkenton appears to be of English origin; however, its specific meaning is not recorded or well-known. Like many surnames, it is likely derived from a geographic location, a profession, or an ancestor's first name. Several internet sources suggest that it might be a diverse spelling form of "Throckmorton," an English surname with roots in a place name. The two elements of Throckmorton, "thrókr" (an Old Norse personal name) and "morton" (from the Old English "mor" meaning marsh, and "tun" meaning settlement or enclosure), may therefore potentially offer indirect insight into the meaning or origin of "Torkenton." This understanding, however, is speculative, as tangible records linking Torkenton and Throckmorton are lacking. Notably, Fran Tarkenton, a retired professional American football quarterback, is a famous person with the surname. Other instances of the surname Torkenton are relatively rare.
Order DNA origin analysisTorkenton: Where does the name Torkenton come from?
The last name Torkenton is not a particularly common name. According to the website Forebears, only 255 people in the world bear this name, most of whom live in the United States.
In the United States, Torkenton is distributed unevenly. The name is mostly concentrated in the Midwest. The states with the most occurrences are Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio, where 1 in every 68,653, 1 in every 59,770, and 1 in every 66,052 people respectively have this last name. However, the states with the highest concentrations are Illinois and Minnesota, where 1 in every 22,982 and 1 in every 18863 people respectively have the name Torkenton.
There is also a small number of individuals with the last name Torkenton living in Canada, with around fifteen people scattered throughout the provinces.
The surname Torkenton is a patronymic name, which means that it is derived from a father's given name, suggesting that many of the current Torkentons in North America originated from a single ancestor. Although the name has become far more dispersed since then, it still maintains a presence on both sides of the US-Canada border, and can still be found among the populations of the Midwest states.
Variations of the surname Torkenton
Torkenton is an uncommon Anglo-Saxon surname. It is derived from the Old English words “torc” which means “bog”, “ton” which means “enclosure”, and “tun” which means “enclosed settlement”. The original bearer of this surname likely lived near a waterway, and was likely linked to a prominent landowner.
Variants of this surname include Torkington, Thorkington, Torkinten, Torkon, Torkinton, Turlinton, and Torlington. Spellings of this surname can also vary immensely. Some such spellings include Turckenten, Turkenton, Torkinten, Torkonton, Turnington, and.
Common surnames of the same origin, but with a different prefix, include Turkington, Tuckington, Turlinton, Tarkington, and Turkingten. This suggests that the surname likely originated among related families.
In addition, some variations of the surname can retain the Old English spelling, such as Thorkington. This spelling can be found in county records dating back to the 14th century, suggesting the surname’s nobility.
Ultimately, Torkenton is an unusual Anglo-Saxon surname, and its variants and alternate spellings offer an insight into the family’s past.
Famous people with the name Torkenton
- Peter Tork: Peter Tork is an American musician and actor best known as the keyboardist and bass guitarist of the 1960s band The Monkees.
- Bill Torkington: Bill Torkington is a former Canadian professional hockey player who played two seasons in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks.
- Kathy Tork: Kathy Tork is a former American tennis player who competed professionally from 1977 to 1981.
- Bruce Tork: Bruce Tork is a former American professional football linebacker who played three seasons in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions.
- Dave Torkington: Dave Torkington is a former Canadian football player who played one season in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts.
- Julie Torkleton: Julie Torkleton is an American Broadway actress who has performed in many musicals including "Beauty and the Beast", "The Music Man", and "The Producers".
- Chris Torkington: Chris Torkington is a British actor best known for his roles in Are You Being Served? and It Ain't Half Hot Mum.
- Todd Torkenton: Todd Torkenton is a former Canadian speed skater who competed as a member of the Canadian national team at the 1972 Winter Olympic Games.
- Randy Torkenton: Randy Torkenton is a former Canadian ice hockey forward who is best known for his time with the Western Hockey League's Portland Winter Hawks.
- Scott Torkenton: Scott Torkenton is an American climber and mountaineer who has made ascents of many challenging mountains in the US and abroad.