Surname Tillinghurst - Meaning and Origin

Tillinghurst: What does the surname Tillinghurst mean?

The last name Tillinghurst is of English origin, hailing from the Old English given names Tilla or Till meaning "one who is prosperous" and hyrst meaning "wooded knoll". It was a surname given to someone who lived near or worked on a wooded knoll. It is believed that the name originally derived from the Old English word thillestun meaning "Tilla's settlement".

The name was popularized by the Norman lords who came to the British Isles. Those who bore the name settled widely throughout England but were most common in the southern and eastern parts of the country. Its spelling was known to have been varied including Tylney, Tyllen, Tilney, and Tillingurst among others.

Tillinghurst is an occupational surname, and those who bear it may be proud of their English heritage. It is said that those with the surname were brave and adventurous, taking part in great battles and being forward-thinking and creative. They were often craftsmen or traveled far to seek adventure and excitement. Today, it is a noteworthy last name and its numerous variations are still used in England and beyond.

Tillinghurst: Where does the name Tillinghurst come from?

The last name Tillinghurst is found primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. It is an Anglicized version of the Welsh surname “Tillingshir." The name is relatively rare, with records showing only around 19 people in the United Kingdom sharing the name as of the 2011 census.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Tillinghurst appeared in the Fifteenth Century, in Berkswell, Warwickshire, England. In the Sixteenth Century, it was found in Yorkshire, Devon, and Lincolnshire. The earliest record of the name in Australia is from 1855, when Rebecca Tillinghurst immigrated from Wiltshire, England.

Today, the Tillinghurst name is still somewhat uncommon in Britain and is found primarily concentrated in Devon. Recent reports show that over 60 percent of people with the Tillinghurst name still live in Devon. Likewise, the name is also found in the Irish counties of Westmeath, Wexford, and Kildare. In addition, the Tillinghurst name has spread to Australia, Canada, and the United States with the diaspora of the British Empire and to New Zealand in more recent times.

Variations of the surname Tillinghurst

Tillinghurst is an English name with a variety of spelling variations, including Tilghurst, Tilhurst, Tilman, Tillman, Tilman, Tillerman, Tilford, Tillford, Tillman, Tillmon, Tilman, Tilmon, Tilmonn, Tylman and Tillmann.

The Tillinghurst surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon language and has been found in various forms across many parts of England since the late 12th century. It is derived from the combination of two components; the Old English pre 7th century word ‘till’, which was used to denote a wood or clearing in a wood, and the Old English word ‘hyrst’, which was used to denote a wooded hill or wooded crest. As such, the earliest recordings of the name were likely from places named with this combination, such as Tullhurst, first recorded in Surrey in 1211.

Variations of the spelling include ‘Tillan’ which was recorded in Norfolk in 1210 and also ‘Tylman’, which was recorded in Essex in 1203. Tillinghurst itself is a rare surname and was only first recorded in London in 1737 when Mary Tillinghurst married Emanual Willoughby.

Variations of the same origin include Tillinghast, Tilghast, Tilghast, Tilhurst, Tilhirst, Tilgerst, Tilgans and Tilgan.

Famous people with the name Tillinghurst

• Gavin Tillinghurst: a professional rugby player for England and the British Lions.
• Sarah Tillinghurst: an actress best known for her work in the television show "The Office".
• John Tillinghurst: an English landscape painter who was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts.
• Harriet Tillinghurst: an Australian television presenter and producer.
• Mary Tillinghurst: an American author known for her children's books "The Cat In The Hat" and "Green Eggs And Ham".
• Edmund Tillinghurst: an English naval captain who served in the Napoleonic wars.
• Judith Tillinghurst: an English philanthropist who helped form the Hospice movement in the United Kingdom.
• Emily Tillinghurst: an Australian fashion designer who created several award-winning collections and was the face of Australia's fashion industry.
• Stephen Tillinghurst: an English footballer who played for Aston Villa in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Richard Tillinghurst: a British World War II pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Other surnames

Tillinghurt