Surname Tharkinton - Meaning and Origin

Tharkinton: What does the surname Tharkinton mean?

The last name Tharkinton is of Scottish and Irish origin, and is most commonly found in Northern Ireland with a few occurrences in Scotland. The name means "Tarken's town", derived from the Old British pre-7th Century personal name "Tarken" combined with the suffix "-ton" to mean "dweller at".

The name was most likely given to someone who lived in, or had a strong relationship with, a settlement or estate called "Tarken's town". This could be someone who was born in the town, lived there, owned the land, or had some business affiliation with the area. It also could have been a name created from a combination of other words — for example, if the person's family originated from "Tarken's hill", the word "hill" could have simply been replaced with "town" to create the name.

In terms of cultural identity, those with the surname Tharkinton likely had an ancestral origin in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the British Isles. It is likely that they have a strong cultural pride in the Irish and Scottish heritage. The name could also be a symbol of differentiation from a certain group, which could lead to its holders having an appreciation for their unique identity.

Tharkinton: Where does the name Tharkinton come from?

The last name Tharkinton is today found primarily in the United States and England. Records of the name can be traced back to 11th century Scotland, when it was known as the surname of Thorkil, or Thorkel. The Danish form of this name, Thorkelyn, was adopted in England and later anglicized in the 17th century as Thorketon and Thorkington.

The Thorketon family has been traced to Norfolk in the mid-1800s, while another branch of the same name is found in Lincolnshire. Later, the family migrated to America and found its way to New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.

In the United States, the largest concentration of Tharkinton families is in the Midwest states. Michigan tops the list with 775 people, followed by Illinois with 617 people, and Ohio with only 27 people. In England, Lancashire has the highest concentration of the name, with 126 people.

Overall, the name Tharkinton is extremely uncommon today. According to the US Census Bureau, only 1,211 people bear the last name in the United States, and only 36 people in England.

Variations of the surname Tharkinton

Variants of the surname Tharkinton include Tharkingtown, Tharntown, Thorntown, Tharrington, and Thorneton. Spellings of this surname can sometimes be found as Tharkenton, Tharckinton, Tharkintonn, Tharcton, and Tharcten. All of these related surnames have similar roots though they are pronounced in different ways.

Tharkinton is an English surname derived from a place-name. The original place name could have been Thorneton, Tharnton, Thornton, Thorntown, Thorningtown, or Tharrington, and all of these would have developed into the surname Tharkinton.

Tharnton, in which it has its roots, is believed to have referred to a farm, settlement, or hamlet located in Nottinghamshire, England where the surname first appeared and where people with that surname later settled.

The different spellings of Tharkinton can be attributed to various factors such as a change in the way a pronunciation was recorded in documents like censuses or legal documents, or copying errors as the result of poor handwriting.

Other surnames from the same origin include Tharknton, Tharkinten, Tharkington, Tharnten, Tharnton, Thornten, Thornton, and Tharnington. The Tharkinton name is most commonly associated with Nottinghamshire, England rather than Scotland, which is where Thorneton is located. There is a parish in Nottinghamshire called Tharnton that could have given rise to the surname.

Famous people with the name Tharkinton

• Paul Tharkinton: An American musician who has composed music for multiple films and TV shows.
• Ane Tharkinton: A Norwegian singer-songwriter and actress.
• Rupert Tharkinton: An English actor, best known for his performances in the British TV series I, Claudius and The Bill.
• Jillian Tharkinton: An American author noted for her works in fantasy, science fiction, and children's literature.
• Josiah Tharkinton: An academic and literary scholar, he chairs the English department at Princeton University.
• Geffrey Tharkinton: A British sculptor, best known for his work on public monuments around the world.
• Annabelle Tharkinton: An American psychologist, she works in the field of neuroscience and is an expert on memory and emotion.
• Andrew Tharkinton: A British mathematician and theoretical physicist, he is a professor at Cambridge University.
• Lindsey Tharkinton: An American journalist and political commentator, regularly appearing in numerous television and radio programs.
• Darius Tharkinton: An American basketball player who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA.

Other surnames

Tharkington