Surname Turlin - Meaning and Origin
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Turlin: What does the surname Turlin mean?
The last name Turlin is thought to be an occupational surname originating from pre-medieval Europe. It is thought to have derived from the Old French words "tour" meaning “turn" and "lin" meaning “linen”. This suggests that the surname most likely derived from a profession revolving around the handling of linen, such as a weaver.
Another possible origin of the surname Turlin is from a location in Northern France named Turlin-L’abbaye, located in the region Picardy. Those who lived there could have taken the name Turlin to differentiate themselves from individuals with the same name.
The surname Turlin is common throughout areas of Europe with French influence, suggesting that those with this last name originated from the continent. It is most common in Italy and Spain, with some incidence in France and Belgium.
Some examples of notable bearers of the name Turlin in recent times include the Italian composer Claudio Felice Giuseppe Turlin, the French professional footballer Benoît Turlin, and the Spanish zoologist Vicente Tur Lin.
The last name Turlin is a reminder of the profession or location of its original bearers. It is a rare but proud surname with European origins, describing ancestors with an eye for detail and a love for travelling.
Order DNA origin analysisTurlin: Where does the name Turlin come from?
The surname Turlin is most common in the small Mediterranean island nation of Malta. According to the 2017 population census, the surname is the 890th most common last name in the country, with 676 people listed as bearing the surname. When broken down into its constituent provinces, it is most commonly found in the Northern and Southern Harbour Provinces, with most Turlins in Malta living in the country's capital city of Valletta.
The surname originates from the French verb tourner, meaning 'to turn', and is a derivative of the French surname Tourlon, which gradually evolved into its current spelling, Turlin. It is thought that the name first settled in Malta during the country's period of French rule in the late 18th century and that the surname likely belonged to French military officers and their families who occupied the islands between 1798 and 1800.
Turlin is also common in the United Kingdom, as it is the 14,837th most common surname in the country according to the 2018 UK Census. The name is especially prominent in the cities of London, Leeds, and Birmingham, though there are smaller clusters of Turlins located throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
There is also a small presence of the surname in the United States, particularly in the states of Virginia and Maryland. This is likely due to the presence of Maltese immigrants and their descendants in the country, given that the surname is found in much higher numbers in other countries with a large Maltese diaspora, such as Australia and Canada.
Variations of the surname Turlin
The surname Turlin is an Anglicized one derived from the Irish surname "O'Tuathail". The alternate spelling variant of Turlin includes Torlen, and the surnames of same origin include O'Tuathail, Turlan, Torthill, Terlin, Torlon, Thurlan, Thurlin, Towell, and Trowel.
Each of these surnames originated many centuries ago from the male progenitor of the family, Tuathal. The literal meaning of the name is "the one who rules the people", comes from a Gaelic phrase 'tuath' meaning "people" and 'al' which means "rule".
The Tuathail clan was known to be prominent during the 14th century in the area that now encompasses County Roscommon, when the Anglicization of the Irish surname to Torlen and similar spellings occurred. Today, the surname Turlin is believed to have the longest history in Ireland of any surname, possible making it one of the oldest Irish surname still in use.
The earliest record of the spelling of Turlin dates back to 1613, when the name was found in county Leitrim in the barony of Mohill. Additionally, the Turlin surname has been mapped heavily around the province of Leinster, in counties Carlow and Wexford.
In the United States, the Turlin surname is most notably found in the New England states of Massachussetts and New Hampshire. Immigration records in America record individuals with the Turlin surname as having arrived in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
The low frequency of the Turlin surname in Ireland today is likely due to the many emigration events in the 19th century. Many people with the Turlin surname have since found their way to England, Canada, Australia, and the United States. The surname still remains popular today, particularly in those regions of the world where many Irish immigrants settled.
Famous people with the name Turlin
- Emma Turlin: Swedish artist, particularly known for creating contemporary naïve and surrealistic paintings.
- John Turlin: French painter from the 19th century, part of the Barbizon School.
- Thornton Stanley Turlin: American artist, illustrator, sculptor, and teacher who was active in the first half of the 20th century.
- Elisabeth Turlin: Swedish playwright and stage director best known for her works "Love" which was written for the 100th anniversary of the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
- Jesse Turlin: American musician and guitarist who comprised the band "The Thrift Store All-Stars" in the 1990s.
- Marina Turlin: French writer who penned novels and children's books.
- Elynor Turlin: Canadian feminist and suffragist who was an advocate of women's rights in the early 20th century.
- Jo Turlin: Dutch singer and songwriter who has been in the music scene since 1998.
- Terence Turlin: English architect who co-founded the design firm Turlin and Horne in 2009.
- Kaan Turlin: Turkish movie and television actor who starred in the series "İşler Güçler" in 2020.