Surname Tebbitt - Meaning and Origin
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Tebbitt: What does the surname Tebbitt mean?
The last name Tebbitt is an English surname of Olde English origins, thought to derive from the pre 7th century olde English personal name Theobald. Theobald is thought to be a combination of the olde English words ‘theod’, meaning people, and ‘bald’, meaning bold, brave or audacious. Tebbitt people were therefore considered brave and even fearless.
The Tebbitt surname is commonly found in the United Kingdom, in particular in the counties of Devon, Sussex, Sussex and Surrey. It is one of a number of surnames which derive from an ancient tribal form of a personal name.
With the crushing of the industrial revolution and the development of growing cities, many of the Tebbitt family moved north to the industrial centers of Yorkshire, Manchester and Newcastle in search of work.
The Tebbitt family motto is ‘ardens solum’, meaning ‘brave only’. This reflects the bravery of Tebbitt ancestors as they strove to survive and create a better future for themselves and their descendants.
To this day, the Tebbitt name still carries an air of strength and courage, of people who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. It is an honor for those who carry the surname and an inspiration to those who learn of its origins.
Order DNA origin analysisTebbitt: Where does the name Tebbitt come from?
The last name TEBBITT is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. The name is of British origin, deriving from place names in British counties such as Kent, Yorkshire, and Devon. The spelling of the surname has varied over time, with common variations recorded at times being Tebbutt, Tibbott, Tybbot, and Tebat.
Today the name is primarily concentrated in the southern regions of England. Locations with particularly high concentrations include Essex to the east of London, around the city of Bristol in the West Country, and towns near the Welsh border such as Hereford.
The name is also found in Australia, particularly Tasmania, but the highest numbers are still found in the United Kingdom. If you have the last name TEBBITT, you likely have ancestors from England, and it may be possible to trace them back to the county which originally gave rise to the family.
Due to the various spelling variants of the name, it can be confusing to trace family lines with this surname. Therefore, combing through records in the location of known TEBBITT ancestry is the best bet for discovering your family history.
Variations of the surname Tebbitt
The British surname Tebbit, with variants Tebbitt and Tebbot, has an Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a habitational name derived from any of the various places named with the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Tebba", plus "-ing" or "-ham", meaning "family or settlement of Tebba".
Variations in spelling of the name Tebbit include Tebbet, Tebbete, Tebbett, Tebbette, Tebbitte, Tebbot, Tevvot, Tibbett, Tibbot and Tibbotts. Another variant of the name is Tibbitts.
In some instances, people with the related surname Tebbot have undergone a spelling change or adopted another form of the surname as their own. For example, Tebbatts and Tibotts are two variations of the Tebbot surname.
The Tebbit family has been present in Britain since at least 1281. During the Middle Ages, the Tebbot name arrived in England when the Anglo-Saxon tribes migrated from Continental Europe.
Most notably, the Tebbit family is most associated with the colorful former British cabinet member and Conservative member of parliament, Norman Tebbit (b. 1931). He was an influential politician credited with helping to bring about Margaret Thatcher's "Iron Lady" legacy of fiscal responsibility in the 1980s.
Famous people with the name Tebbitt
- Norman Tebbit: Norman Tebbit is a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 to 1992 and held posts in Margaret Thatcher’s government during the 1980s.
- Camilla Tebbutt: Camilla Tebbutt is an Australian legal scholar, lawyer and public advocate. She is currently professor of public law and the director of the Women in International Security Program at the Australian National University.
- Beah Richards: Beah Richards was a multi-award winning actress, poet and civil rights activist who came to prominence in the late 1950s. She was born Beulah Richardson and later changed her name to Beah Tebbutt.
- George Tebbitt: George Tebbitt was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United in the 1930s.
- Gregory Tebbutt: Gregory Tebbutt is a British contemporary classical composer, arranger, and musician.