Surname Taggert - Meaning and Origin

Taggert: What does the surname Taggert mean?

Taggert is a surname of Irish origin. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Mac an tSagairt" which means "son of the priest". This surname was often given to the children of Roman Catholic priests in the early centuries when they were not allowed to marry or have children. There are various spellings of the name, including Taggart, MacTaggart, and others. Although it implies a religious connotation, it does not necessarily imply that one with this surname has any priestly lineage, as surnames have evolved and been passed down through generations. However, the meaning highlights an interesting aspect of Irish history and cultural norms during its inception.

Taggert: Where does the name Taggert come from?

The last name Taggert is most common in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau, there were approximately 5,841 people in the US with the last name Taggert in 2019. This surname is most common in the state of West Virginia with an estimated 1,040 people, followed by Pennsylvania (770) and Ohio (725).

The surname originated in Scotland where it is derived from the Old Gaelic 'teagairt', meaning 'priest'. It is likely that the ancestor of the first to bear the name 'Taggert' was a priest by profession. An alternate version of the surname, 'Taggart', is also found in Scotland but is less common.

The Taggert family name is well known in West Virginia. George Taggert (1765-1845) was a deeply religious pioneer minister who is buried in Marion County, West Virginia. His descendants have spread out from his original home in West Virginia to other states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

The surname Taggert is not as common as it once was, but it remains well-known amongst those descended from George Taggert, the pioneer minister in West Virginia.

Variations of the surname Taggert

Taggert is a surname of English origin. Variants of this surname include Taggart, Taggert, Tagart, Taggett, and Tagget. Other spellings of this name are Tagert, Taggaert, Teggart, Teggert, Tegart, Tegert, Tygget, Tygert, and Tygart.

The Taggert surname is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Toighardaigh, which means "son of Toighardaigh". Toighardaigh was a personal name derived from the Old Norse tǫgr (direction) or Old Celtic tigern (lord).

It is possible that the Taggert surname was first used in Ireland, but it may have been adopted by some Anglo-Norman families in England during the time of the Norman invasion (11th-13th century). Records of the surname in England date back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

In Scotland, the Taggert name originates from either Scotland or Ireland, possibly from the Lowland Scots of Galloway or Gallovidian beneficiaries of the Protestant Plantation of Ulster in 16th century Ireland.

Taggert is common in Northern Ireland. Here the surname was overwhelmed with the influx of English and Scottish settlers in the 17th century. Popular Ulster variants of the surname include Taggart, Teggert, Tagert, and Tegert.

In the United States, immigrants bearing the name Taggert arrived as early as the 18th century, coming from Scotland and Ireland, and settling in New York, Pennsylvania, and other areas of the East Coast.

Famous people with the name Taggert

• Amanda Taggert: American actress, dancer, singer, and lyricist.
• Cameron Taggert: British musician and songwriter.
• Clay Taggert: American actor and vintner who starred in numerous films.
• David Taggert: New Zealand Alpine skier who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
• Donald Taggert: American business executive, philanthropist, and community leader.
• James Taggert: Theater and television actor, screenwriter, playwright, and producer.
• Jocelyn Taggert: American professional snowboarder.
• Jonathan Taggert: American film and television actor who starred in various soap operas and starred on the show “Party of Five”.
• Josh Taggert: Professional motocross rider and former championship racer.
• Peter Taggert: Former professional golfer who won a record eight tournaments on the PGA Tour.
• Roy Taggert: American Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Teal Taggert: American film producer who produced “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Shrek 2”.
• Tommy Taggert: American Olympic swimmer who won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
• William Taggert: American artist who exhibited his work in galleries throughout the US, Europe, and Asia.
• Wing Taggert: American television personality and former NFL cheerleader.

Other surnames

Taggerd