Surname Torkynton - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Torkynton: What does the surname Torkynton mean?
The last name Torkynton is derived from the Old English for “of the Torc’s village.” The roots of the name can be traced back to a place in the East Riding of Yorkshire, now known as Torckington.
The village was established many centuries ago and was one of many small clusters of settlements in the area. Those living in this community were generally agricultural laborers who worked on the land of local landlords or landowners. A surname of Torkynton was given to those who hailed from this village, as a means of identifying them and connecting them to their ancestral home.
The Torkynton surname is the symbol of a long and unique lineage that dates back centuries to various generations of workers who lived and labored in the Yorkshire town. It serves as a reminder of the history of these families, their ancestries, and the rural locale in which they resided. Today, descendants of this family are likely still living in the area, proud of their roots and keen to honor the legacy of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisTorkynton: Where does the name Torkynton come from?
The surname Torkynton is derived from the English locality of Torrington, Devon. It has been recorded in England since the early 13th Century when, in 1186, two holders of the name Torkynton are recorded at Torrington.
Today, the surname is still relatively uncommon, although it can be found in pockets of England, Ireland and Scotland. It can also be found scattered throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.
Interestingly, there is a concentrated number of Torkynton families in the town of Torrington itself. The families have been present in the area since the days of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and appear to have followed the town’s growth over the centuries.
The surname is mainly still found in Britain and Ireland, with notable concentrations in Devon and Somerset in the south of England, and counties Kerry, Cork and Sligo in Ireland. In Scotland, the surname is mainly to be found in Aberdeenshire and Argyll in the west and Banffshire in the north-east. High concentrations of Torkynton families can still be found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Despite its age, the surname Torkynton is still quite rare and scattered out evenly throughout the world. It is not widely known nor recognized, yet the families who bare it still take pride in not only living up to it’s history but also setting examples for the next generations who will inherit it.
Variations of the surname Torkynton
Torkynton is a relatively rare surname with limited records of origin. There are a few variant spellings of the name, as well as surnames derived from its root.
The most common spelling is Torkington, which is believed to be the original version of the surname. Other, less frequent variants of the name are Thorkeynton, Torkyntonne, Thorkeyntonne, Thorcinton, Torkinton, Thorkington and Torcinton. In early records, the name was sometimes spelled simply as Torkintone.
Surnames derived from the Torkynton name root include Torkenden, Torkenton, Torkadin and Torkadon. Torkin and Torken are believed to be nicknames given to those who bore this surname.
Torkynton is thought to be an Anglo-Norman name, derived from the Old French term 'thorcint', which means “commoner”. It is believed to have been bestowed on a family who held a low rank in local society, such as tenant farmers. It is related to the Middle English word 'thorkynton', which is also a reference to a commoner.
The Torkynton surname is most commonly found in England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Northumberland. It is also found in Scotland, where it is believed to have arrived in the early 1500s. Records of the surname can also be found in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Torkynton
- John Torrington, British seaman and Arctic explorer
- David Torrington, British cinematographer
- Lynda Torrington, British film production manager
- Robert Torrington, American athlete
- Matt Torrington, English cricketer
- Adrian Torrington, British politician
- Paul Torrington, Canadian architect
- Duchess of Torrington, English aristocrat
- Joe Torrington, English actor
- Robert Torrington, Australian footballer