Surname Tarvin - Meaning and Origin
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Tarvin: What does the surname Tarvin mean?
The surname Tarvin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a place name. The place referred to here is Tarvin, a village and civil parish near Chester, in Cheshire, England. The name Tarvin itself is believed to be derived from the Old English term "Tærne", which means "lake" or "pool", combined with "fenn", which means "marsh". So, the surname Tarvin could be interpreted to mean someone who lived near a marsh or lake. It is a common practice in many cultures for families to adopt the name of the place where they come from as their family name. As such, those bearing the surname Tarvin are likely to have ancestral roots from the village of Tarvin in Cheshire. Like many surnames, it may have also been used to indicate land ownership or residence.
Order DNA origin analysisTarvin: Where does the name Tarvin come from?
Today, the last name Tarvin is most frequently found in the United States. Tarvin is an anglicised form of the Welsh surname ‘Torfaen’, meaning ‘from the shore’. The majority of Tarvin families originated in the south-east of Wales. It’s likely that some Tarvins immigrated to the United States in the late 18th century during the industrial revolution.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that, in 2009, over 1,700 people bore the last name Tarvin in America, with the majority of them living in either California, Texas, or Waterbury, Connecticut. It is worth noting, however, that the Tarvin surname is still prevalent in Wales’ original stomping ground. In particular, Tarvins are heavily represented in Monmouthshire, and in the Commons townships of Old and New Cwmbran.
Unsurprisingly, the last name is relatively scarce beyond the two countries; there are just 79 individuals whose last name is Tarvin living in the U.K., and no more than a handful of people with this surname in any other country. Given further immigration and emigration, it is likely that the number of Tarvin households dispersed around the world may grow over the years.
Variations of the surname Tarvin
The surname Tarvin has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin due to its long and varied history. It is likely to be a locational name, derived from many places called Tarvin, Tarving or Tarvinn throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The most common spelling is Tarvin, which could derive from the Old English words “tǣre”, meaning “thorn”, and “ing” meaning “meadow”, indicating the family were originally from an area of land with a dense population of thorns.
The Ancient English spelling of Tarvin was Đearfin, and in Scotland it was Tearfin and Tairfinn. Other ancient and modern spellings include Tarveen, Tarvaine, Tarvane, Tarrevin, Tarvinne, Tarvanne, Tarren, Tarrin, Tarveen, Tarrven, Tarvann, Terfen and Tervin.
The surname Tarvin also has numerous Gaelic variants, stemming from County Donegal, including O’Tarambain, O’Tirimin, O’Taramaihin, and O’Tarraimin. Irish variants include O’Tarraimhain, Tarraimin, O’Tarrain, O’Tarran and Mac Tarramain.
Notable people with the surname Tarvin include Thomas Tarvin (1757-1823), an American politician, Isham Tarvin (1789-1864), an American lawyer and politician, and Erik Tarvin (1890-1971), a US Navy chief petty officer.
In summary, the surname Tarvin has many variations, stemming from several nationalities, languages, and dialects that are a testament to the family’s long and varied history.
Famous people with the name Tarvin
- Mark Tarvin: Former footballer who made more than 400 appearances in the Football League in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Robert Tarvin: American judge who served on the Supreme Court of Texas from 2009 to 2019.
- Wayland Tarvin: Olympic triple-jumper who competed for the United States in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.
- Louis Tarvin: American comedian, actor, and radio personality who had his own show on NBC affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio in the late 1950s.
- Geoff Tarvin: American racecar driver who competed in USAC Championship Car series, IndyCar Series, and World of Outlaws.
- Alston Tarvin: American country music singer-songwriter who released three albums between 2001 and 2009.
- Mac Tarvin: American folk-rock singer-songwriter, known for his distinctive fingerpicking style.
- Ashley Tarvin: American two-time Emmy-award winning television producer, editor, and writer.
- Tom Tarvin: American independent film director, writer, and cinematographer.
- Lisa Tarvin: American feminist artist known for her intricate paper-cutting artworks.