Surname Tilkington - Meaning and Origin
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Tilkington: What does the surname Tilkington mean?
The surname Tilkington is believed to be of English origin, and is most likely an altered version of the surname Tilkenton. It can be classified as a habitation or topographic surname, derived from a place name where the original bearers once lived or held land. Following this classification, Tilkington could potentially come from "Tilkenton", a village or hamlet that existed in ancient England. However, the exact geographical location or meaning associated with the origin of this surname remains uncertain due to the lack of historical records. Surnames like Tilkington became significant as societies started to use personal taxation, as they were a way to identify individuals and families for tax purposes. Such surnames can offer glimpses into the history of a family lineage, reflecting the occupations, geographical origins, or characteristic traits of the ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisTilkington: Where does the name Tilkington come from?
The last name Tilkington is not particularly common today. It appears most frequently in records from the United Kingdom, with only a few documented occurrences elsewhere. In the UK, the name can be found in areas such as Derbyshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and a few records are found of instances of it being used as far back as the 16th century.
It appears to have originated as a name in the North West of England and the area of East Midlands. It initially derived from the Norse words "til" (meaning "daughter of") and "ing" (meaning "kinsman"), which were then added onto the Old English "ton" (meaning "enclosed settlement or town"). This first became Tillington (from the Old English for "Til's town"), then eventually Tilkington.
However, the name is relatively rare, and it is believed there may now be fewer than 500 people in the UK who are carrying the original spelling of the name. Those who have this surname are spread out across the country, though records in areas such as Merseyside and Notts indicate that there may be a slightly greater prevalence of the name in those regions.
Variations of the surname Tilkington
The surname Tilkington is derived from the Old English pre 7th-century words “tilia” meaning a lime tree, plus “tun,” a farmstead or a settlement. Likely, the name refers to a person who lived by a lime tree. This name can take various spelling forms such as Tilking, Tilkgton, Tylkington, Tilkenton, Tikyton and Tylkinton.
The variants with the spelling Tilking are found mainly in Lancashire. The variants Tilkgton and Tikyton have been found in Scotland and Durham. The spelling Tylkinton is found in Southeast England, especially in Cambridgeshire. The surname Tilkenton has been found in Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Variants to the name Tilkington include Tykington, Tylkingtong, Tilginton, Tileington and Tilginton. The Megronymical variants of this surname are TiliMFNT, TilingTn, Tylington, TylkTCN and Tilkenton.
The alternative surnames deriving from the root Tilkington include Tilkinton, Tilkason, Tilkevan, Telkington, Tilkson, Tylkinton and Turnbull. There are also variants on the root word Tun, such as Tunngton, Tonklinton and Tonkington.
Common surnames occurring from the same origin as Tilkington include Tilkeson, Tilkevans, Tilkers and Telkiston. All of these place names ultimately derived from Old English tilia, meaning a lime tree.
Overall, the surname Tilkington may have various variants and surnames of the same origin, but the original root of the name is easily traceable to tilia, a lime tree.
Famous people with the name Tilkington
- Emily Tilkington: British actor best known for her role in the popular musical film ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’.
- William Tilkington: British composer who wrote the score for the critically acclaimed 2016 film ‘A United Kingdom’.
- Jack Tilkington: British civil engineer who was responsible for the design and construction of the iconic Tower Bridge in London.
- Caroline Tilkington: British historian and professor who has written extensively about the history of the British Empire.
- Simon Tilkington: Australian Olympic swimmer who won a gold medal in the 200m backstroke at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
- Mark Tilkington: British Nobel Prize-winning chemist who discovered the structure of DNA in 1953.
- Miriam Tilkington: American singer and songwriter who has released three albums and has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe.
- Steven Tilkington: British actor most famous for his roles in several of the Harry Potter films.
- Maria Tilkington: Canadian actress best known for her roles in the award-winning films ‘Room’ and ‘Brokeback Mountain’.
- Kim Tilkington: American author and illustrator whose novel ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ has become a classic of modern literature.