Surname Tarpley - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tarpley: What does the surname Tarpley mean?
The last name Tarpley is of English origin and is believed to have first been used in the northern county of Yorkshire. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a geographical place where the original bearers lived or held land. However, the exact location or meaning of "Tarpley" in Old English is unclear.
Some researchers suggest that "Tarpley" might be derived from the Old English words "torr" and "leah," meaning "hill" and "wood" respectively. Hence, it could possibly denote someone who lived near a wooded hill. However, due to the lack of concrete historical evidence, this is more an assumption than confirmed fact.
As with many surnames, over the centuries, the spelling of Tarpley has been altered due to a multitude of reasons including regional dialects and poor literacy.
It’s also worth mentioning that every surname has a unique story and its meaning can be influenced by various factors including occupation, status, or even an ancestor’s physical attributes or characteristics. Therefore, for the most accurate understanding of an individual Tarpley family's history, genealogical research would be necessary.
Order DNA origin analysisTarpley: Where does the name Tarpley come from?
Today, the last name Tarpley is most common in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Tarpley surname is ranked 13,533 out of 88,799 in popularity. This last name can be found primarily in the south and southeastern states in greater quantities than other parts of the country. In fact, the three states with the highest percentage of Tarpleys are Mississippi, South Carolina, and Alabama, where it is most commonly found.
Though Tarpley is believed to be of American origin, its roots can be traced back to England, where it has been around since at least the 13th century and was originally derived from Old English words such as “tor” (meaning a hill) and “pleg” (meaning field). It is possible that Tarpleys immigrated to the United States from this region.
Today, Tarpleys are scattered throughout the United States, though they are mainly concentrated in states located in the south and southeast. In addition to the U.S., Tarpley can also be found in other countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with a slightly smaller population.
No matter where they are located, Tarpleys can likely trace their roots back to one of the original families in England, thus joining a larger family tree of individuals who share a last name.
Variations of the surname Tarpley
The surname Tarpley is derived from the Old English word ‘tarpel’ which means a ‘threshing floor'. Variations of the surname Tarpley include Tarpley, Tarpel, Tarplee, Tarpoley, Tarpal, and Terpley.
Tarpley is a common surname found in a number of countries including The United States, Scotland, Australia, and England. In the United States, Tarpley is the 5,664th most common surname.
In the English context, the surname is found mainly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Herefordshire. It is also found in the Manchester and Birmingham area of the West Midlands.
In Scotland, the surname appears as Tarpley and Tarpel. According to the General Register Office of Scotland, Tarpley is the 1,901st most common surname. In Australia, the name is found mainly in the state of Victoria, as well as New South Wales and South Australia.
In terms of other spellings, Tarpley can also be seen as Tarple, Tarpleigh, Tarplea, Tarpela, and Tarpley. Other variations are Tarply, Tapley, and Topple.
Surnames associated with Tarpley include Tarrant, Tarrance, Trapp, Trapnell, Trapshall, and Trappett.
In terms of foreign language spelling variations, Tarpley can also be seen as Tarplo, Tarplio, and Tarplič.
In conclusion, the surname Tarpley is derived from the Old English term ‘tarpel’, meaning a threshing floor. Variations of the surname include Tarpley, Tarpel, Tarplee, Tarpoley, Tarpal, and Terpley, while other similar surnames are Tarrant, Tarrance, Trapp, Trapnell, Trapshall, and Trappett. Foreign language variations include Tarplo, Tarplio, and Tarplič.
Famous people with the name Tarpley
- Nevin Tarpley: He is an American former professional soccer player who spent most of his career playing for the Dallas Burn in the Major League Soccer.
- Hilton Tarpley: He is an American retired professional basketball player who was selected by the San Diego Clippers in the 6th round of the 1980 NBA Draft.
- Tammy Tarpley: She is an American former professional women's basketball player and now a coach for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.
- Philip Tarpley: He is an American lawyer and former college basketball player who is the senior associate athletic director of University of Arkansas.
- Oren Tarpley: He is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.
- Robin Tarpley: She is an American retired professional basketball player who was a member of the USA Women's National Team (1992–1995).
- William Tarpley: He is an American professional basketball player, currently on the roster of Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.
- Austin Tarpley: He is an American former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball from 1888 to 1895.
- Chris Tarpley: He is an American former Major League Baseball player who played for the San Francisco Giants from 1982 to 1988.
- Christopher Tarpley: He is an American professional basketball player who was selected in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.