Surname Tunstall - Meaning and Origin
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Tunstall: What does the surname Tunstall mean?
The surname Tunstall is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from an Old English pre 7th century name of a locational area. After the Conquest in 1066, the name Tunstall began to be adopted by those born in this English settlement, which is located in Staffordshire, Durham, and Northumberland in North East England. The component parts of the name 'Tunstall' are 'tun', a farm or hamlet, and 'stall', a place, room, or stable, which makes the probable meaning of Tunstall to be 'the farm where the horses and cattle are kept.' The name Tunstall therefore has an occupational origin, connecting the original bearers of the surname to their principal activity, in this case, farming and specifically, tending to livestock. This reflects the fact that in medieval society, surnames would often directly correspond to a person's job, their father's job, or the region they resided in. Like many surnames, the exact spelling has been variably recorded over the years, including Tunstall, Tunstell, Tunstil, and Tunstill.
Order DNA origin analysisTunstall: Where does the name Tunstall come from?
The last name Tunstall is most common today in the United Kingdom. According to the United Kingdom's Office for National Statistics, it is one of the 30 most common surnames in the country. While it is most prevalent in England, it is also seen in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The first record of the name Tunstall was in the late 12th century, when a man named William de Tunstalle was mentioned in Cheshire. By the 16th century, the surname had spread throughout England, with bearers living in all the major cities of the time.
The name Tunstall is thought to come from a small village near Barnsley in Yorkshire, which is still called Tunstall today. It was given to a family living in the village who likely got their name from the area.
Citizens of Tunstall in the 19th century often traveled across the United Kingdom and the world to seek work. This resulted in the Tunstall name becoming more widespread. Tunstalls can be found today not just in the United Kingdom, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Tunstall
The surname Tunstall is an English name that has various spelling variants and surnames of the same origin. Tunstall originated from two Old English words, "tun" meaning "town" and "stal" meaning "stable". This surname was commonly used in the Middle Ages to denote someone from the town of Tunstall in Staffordshire, England.
The most common spelling variant of the surname is Tunstall, but it can also be spelled Tunstal, Tunstel, Tunstalll, Tunstell, Tunstol, Tunstul, Tunsty, Tonstall, Tunstal, Tunstall, Dunstall, Dunstil, Dunstyl, and Tunstel.
The alternate surnames related to Tunstall are Tunckel, Tonkel, Tunkel, Tunkell, Tuncel, Tunnell, Tunel, Tunickel, Tunigle, and Tunnicle.
Some of the related Americanized surnames are Tune, Tunney, Tunny, Tunis, and Tenney.
In Scotland, the spelling variants of Tunstall are Tunster, Tenster, Tinsley, and Tomez. In Ireland, the spellings Tonstall and Tunestale can be found.
The Elizabethan era variants of the surname include Tunstill, Courtoll, and Taumstock.
In countries like England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia, the family name of Tunstall continues to be the most common spelling variant of the surname.
Famous people with the name Tunstall
- KT Tunstall: English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer.
- Phil Tunstall: Australian sports physician and soccer referee.
- Henry Tunstall: English lawyer and administrator.
- John Tunstall: English businessman and rancher in New Mexico.
- John Tunstall: English-born Australian rower and manager.
- Dick Tunstall: English professional cricketer who stood in two Test matches between 1946 and 1951.
- Stephen Tunstall: English recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- Bette Tunstall: Regency novelist.
- Fred Tunstall: British geographer.
- William Tunstall: English banker and citizen of London in the 16th century.