Surname Tygart - Meaning and Origin

Tygart: What does the surname Tygart mean?

The Tygart surname is of English, Scottish, and Irish origin, and is believed to have evolved from the Old English phrase "teag." This phrase was used to describe a person who worked with clay or clay soil. It is thought that the Tygarts originally lived in the western regions of the British Isles, such as Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

The Tygart surname first appeared in records during the Middle Ages in various iterations, such as Tegard or Tegerd. Variations appeared in the 17th century and many Tygarts have since moved to the United States and Canada.

Today, the Tygarts are a proud and history-rich, surname group. They are likely to trace their early descendancy to a small and isolated group of people, in the wilds of Scotland and Ireland, that had remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years. The Tygarts are an ancient family with an irrefutable history.

The Tygarts are a tight knit family that has prospered over the generations. Even though they may have dispersed throughout the world, they have remained close in spirit, and "Tygarts" are known for their loyalty, support, and kindness to each other.

The Tygart surname has stood the test of time and, today, is a cherished symbol of the family's legacy, culture, and traditions.

Tygart: Where does the name Tygart come from?

The last name Tygart is most common in the United States today, but can also be found in Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand. In the U.S., it is mainly found in the Southern states, including West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. These states are the likely ancestral home for the Tygart family, since many people of this surname can be found in those regions.

The name was derived from the Old English word “Tyght” meaning “clever” or “cunning”. It is thought to have originated from a Medieval English family name of the same spelling. The tyghts were an ancient English clan originating from Yorkshire in northern England.

In the U.S. today, the last name Tygart is most common in West Virginia, followed by Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The highest concentration of Tygarts reside in each of these states, where it is the 134th, 286th, 404th, and 639th most common surname, respectively.

In terms of its highest density, the Tygart surname ranks among the top 3,000 most common surnames in the U.S. and Canada. This is indicative of a moderate level of visibilty in the English-speaking world today, indicating that the Tygart family still has strong ties with its ancestral home of England.

Variations of the surname Tygart

The surname Tygart can originate from several different sources and can be spelt differently depending on location and language.

The surname can be traced back to the English Tygge (or Tygges), which was derived from the Old Norse word ‘týg’, meaning ‘steward’ or ‘overseer’. This was likely given as an occupational surname to those involved in governmental administration or farming accounts. In English, the name can be spelt differently, including Tighe, Tye, Tyges, Tygh, Tyght, Tyghte, and Tyggs.

In Scotland, there is a variant to the surname called Tygart, which is a variation of the Gaelic ‘Mac Taidhg or Mac Thaidhg / McAtee’. This surname derived from the Gaelic personal name, ‘Taidhg’, meaning ‘poet’ or ‘philosopher’. In Scotland, the surname can be spelt differently, including MacTigue, Mannix, MacTea, Tye, McAtty, MacTie, and MacTee.

In Ireland, the surname Tygart also originated from the Gaelic ‘MacTaidhg’. The 'Mac' prefix is a term which stands for 'son of' in Irish and Scottish names. In Ireland, the surname can be spelt differently, including MacTigue, MacTyte, MacTye, MagTigue, MacTee, MacTade, MacTighe, and MacTyge.

Overall, the surname Tygart has many variants, spellings and origins depending on the country and language from which it is derived.

Famous people with the name Tygart

• Casey Tygart: American sports executive, former CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), founding member of the Board of Directors for the Global Anti-Doping Agency (GADA).
• Joe Tygart: American racing promoter and conductor.
• Tom Tygart: American television director and writer.
• George Tygart: American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio.
• Brad Tygart: Lawyer from the United States who served as a Senior Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Jim Tygart: American journalist, producer and cableTV executive.
• Eric Tygart: Served in the United States Navy in both World War I and II, and later an aeronautical engineer at North American Aviation.
• Richard Tygart: American submariner in the United States Navy, known for his involvement in the Battle for Okinawa.
• James Tygart: Member of the United States House of Representatives.
• Nancy Tygart: Member of the Illinois House of Representatives since the 99th General Assembly.
• Arthur Tygart: Member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia.
• Joseph Tygart: Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 44th district.

Other surnames

Tygard