Surname Timmins - Meaning and Origin
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Timmins: What does the surname Timmins mean?
Timmins is an English surname derived from the Medieval English personal name Timon. It is thought that the name derives from the Ancient Greek name Timaeus, which was a common name in Classical Greece. It is believed that the Timon personal name could be derived from the Ancient Greek word ‘timen’ which means ‘honour’ or ‘accord’. In Medieval England, the name Timon was regularly attached to place names (such as Timonmoor, Timonholme, Timonwell, etc). Thus, when used as a surname, the name could be attached to families who had lived or worked at one of these locations.
The presence of the surname Timmins in various English locales was solidified in the mid 15th century. As far back as 1528, there is a record of a ‘Timmyn Thomas’, residing in Fife near Edinburgh, Scotland. Over the centuries, the surname has been used in England, Scotland, Ireland, and various parts of the United States.
Today, the surname Timmins is rare and is primarily found in parts of the United Kingdom, United States, India, and Australia. Most of the individuals with the surname have English descent, and many of them can be found in the larger metropolitan areas of England and the United States such New York City and London.
The surname Timmins holds true to its Ancient Greek roots, representing a sense of honour and accord. It is also a sure sign of the families generations-long presence in the British Isles and parts of North America. Yet, above all it is a reminder of the family history and their individual stories.
Order DNA origin analysisTimmins: Where does the name Timmins come from?
The last name Timmins is most commonly associated with the town of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The town was originally established in 1912 and was the site of major gold discoveries. The name Timmins has even become somewhat of a Canadian heritage, with cities being named in honor of the iconic gold miner, Noah Timmins.
Outside of Canada, the last name Timmins is still relatively common in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also somewhat popular in the United States, particularly in the Upper Midwest, such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The Timmins family is a long-established English family, tracing their history back to the 13th century. The year 1241 saw the baptismal of Thomas Timmins in Oxfordshire, England. The surname has since become associated with a variety of last names - such as Timms, Timmines, and Timmins - and is today considered a common Anglo-Saxon name.
The last name Timmins can also be found throughout different parts of the world, with individuals bearing the last name living in France, Italy, Spain, and even China. This indicates that a sizable number of Timmins' have emigrated from their original home in the UK and have spread the name to different corners of the globe.
In conclusion, the last name Timmins is most strongly associated with the Canadian town of Timmins, Ontario, but it is also a relatively common surname in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Timmins
The surname Timmins is an English-origin surname, meaning either someone from the town of Timmins in Canada, those from the town of Timon near St. Andrews in Scotland, or one who was from a timmar-house or shelter. The variants of this surname include Timmings, Tymons, Timmermans, Timó, Timones, Timon, Timmone, Timone, Tymon, Tilmann, and Timmer.
Timmins is also a form of the name Timotheus, found as an English version in the 16th century. Some of the main spellings of the surname Timmins include Timmings, Timmons, Timon, Tymons, and Timó.
Timmins is also a Welsh or Irish surname. With Welsh heritage, the Timmins spelling could have originated from a combination of the short Welsh term for “deaf” and “en”— ren-Owm, meaning “deaf man”. With Irish heritage, the surname is an Anglicization of the Irish name Tadhg O’Muimhneacháin, which translates to “son of Muimhneacháin” or “of the mountain peaks.”
As for other interpretations, there have been claims that the name Timmins is a variation of the French name Toscha, which is derived from the German name Tostig, meaning “defender” or “leader”. The surname is also connected with the Old Germanic element tycho meaning “beehive”.
Timmins is also used as a first name for both males and females, and various spellings from Timmins to Timmons and Tymons are used in English speaking countries. As a first name, an alternate spelling of Tymon is used in Polish regions.
Famous people with the name Timmins
- Sandi Timmins: She is an actress and singer, known for her appearances in the television series “Road Rules: South Pacific” and “60 Minutes.”
- William Timmins: He is an actor and director, best known for his roles in the films “Dazed and Confused” and “Zen Brett.”
- Steve Timmins: He is a Canadian musician best known for being the original lead singer of the Cowboy Junkies.
- Doug Timmins: He is a Canadian hockey player and former NHL star who played for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers.
- Chris Timmins: He is a British former footballer who played for Leeds Utd, Bradford City and Torquay Utd.
- Bill Timmins: He is an American politician and current State Senator from the 11th District in Ohio.
- Anna Timmins: She is a visual artist based in London, known for her figurative sculptures, oil paintings and drawings.
- Ned Timmins: He is an award-winning screenwriter and film director, best known for his work on the 2013 Australian feature film “Sealed.”
- Laura Timmins: She is a British model and activist, known for her involvement with prestigious charities such as the National Autistic Society and the Brain Tumour Charity.
- Andria Timmins: She is an Australian badminton player, ranked number 58 in the world and winner of numerous national titles.