Surname Toupin - Meaning and Origin
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Toupin: What does the surname Toupin mean?
Toupin is an uncommon French surname derived from the Old French word “touper,” which means to clip or trim. It is thought that the name was most likely given to individuals who worked as tailors, shearers, or other professions where trimming fabric or wool was necessary.
The surname Toupin is an ancestral name found mostly in France, although some bearers can be found in North America. In France, the name is most common in the regions of Brittany and Normandy and is particularly concentrated in the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, and Calvados.
The Toupin name is derived from the Latin “topesius,” meaning trimmer. This Latin root could also mean the name was once used to describe someone with a short or clipped manner of speech.
The name is quite rare in modern times, but its French heritage remains strong. These days, the Toupin name is associated with its original meaning of short and trim, although it can also connote skills such as cutting and tailoring. It is a unique and interesting surname with a long history and is one that has been handed down from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisToupin: Where does the name Toupin come from?
The last name Toupin is most common in Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada. It is also found in small numbers in other parts of Canada, the United States, and France.
In Quebec, Toupin is one of the most common last names. According to the most recent data, there are more than 30,000 Canadians with the surname Toupin (Statistics Canada, 2021). This is due to the high number of people of French descent in Quebec. Most of them are descendants of the French-Canadian settlers who arrived in Quebec in the 17th century, and it is likely that the name Toupin was passed down through the generations.
In New Brunswick, there are slightly fewer people with the surname Toupin, estimated to be around 8,000 (Statistics Canada, 2021). This is due to the high proportion of people in the province of Acadian origin. The Acadians are descendants of the earliest French settlers in Canada and were expelled from Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia) by the British in 1755.
Toupins can also be found in small numbers in other parts of Canada, such as Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. In the United States, the largest concentrations of Toupins are in Louisiana, Maine, New York, California, and Massachusetts. In France, the name Toupin is often found in the Lorraine and Périgord regions.
Overall, the last name Toupin is most common in Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada, with smaller concentrations found in other parts of Canada, the United States, and France.
Variations of the surname Toupin
Toupin is an uncommon French surname with many spellings and variants. The most common spelling is Toupin, while other variants include Toupein, Toupain, Toupigne, Toupon, Toupene, Toupigny, Toupeigne, and Toupine.
The main source of the surname is likely the Old French noun tupin meaning ‘a kind of cloth or fabric’, which may have been used as a nickname for someone who worked with the material as a dyer or cloth merchant. The surname may also be a topographic name for a person who lived on a hill or mound (of course, tupin can also mean 'mound' in French).
The surname is still primarily found in France, with a small number of people bearing the name in other parts of Europe and in Canada. The variants can be seen most in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France, as well as the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris and the surrounding area.
There is also a small presence of the surname in the United States, with a listed variant, Toupeny, appearing once in the 1880 US Census. This may have been a result of immigration from French-speaking colonies.
Overall, Toupin is an uncommon French surname with a variety of spellings and variants. The name is still primarily found in France, however, there is also a small presence of the name in the United States and Canada. Although the origins of the name are uncertain, it is likely a nickname derived from Old French noun tupin and/or a topographic name for someone living on a hill or mound.
Famous people with the name Toupin
- Grant Toupin: Grant Toupin is a Canadian ice hockey player from Montreal, Quebec. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and has played for several teams in the AHL, the ECHL, and the SPHL.
- Tony Toupin: Tony Toupin is a French basketball player from Amiens, France. He has played professionally in France's Pro B Basketball League and currently serves as the head coach of French team HTV Agde.
- Lori Toupin: Lori Toupin is a Canadian retired professional basketball player from Montreal, Quebec. She played collegiate basketball at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. She since has gone on to serve as an assistant coach for several women's collegiate and semi-pro teams in Canada.
- Martin Toupin: Martin Toupin is a Canadian actor and film editor based in Toronto, Ontario. He is known for his work on The Corporation, Watchmen, and 12 Monkeys.
- Arthur Toupin: Arthur Toupin was a politician, lawyer, and judge from Quebec, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1936-1939 and served as an Attorney General of Quebec.
- Jean-Michel Toupin: Jean-Michel Toupin is a French actor, director, and screenwriter. He is known for his work on films such as Les Conquérants, La Prophétie, and Qu’elles Soient Douces.
- Jacques Toupin: Jacques Toupin is a Canadian former ice hockey player from Montreal, Quebec. He played for several teams in the NHL, AHL, and internationally. He also served as the General Manager of the Quebec Nordiques from 1986-1988.