Surname Tulkenton - Meaning and Origin
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Tulkenton: What does the surname Tulkenton mean?
Tulkenton is a surname of Viking origin that dates back to Olde English pre 7th century. It can be traced back to a place called Torkington in County Cheshire, England, which was named by the Vikings during the Viking invasion of Britain in the 8th to the 12th century. The name is derived from two words: 'Torkel', a personal name of Old Norse origin meaning 'Thor's cauldron', and 'tun', an Old English term usually interpreted as 'enclosure' or 'settlement'. So, the surname Tulkenton can be roughly interpreted as 'settlement of Thorkel' or 'Thorkel's settlement'. This surname, like many others of its kind, became hereditary decidedly late, usually until the 12th and 13th centuries. Over the years, the spelling of the surname has varied due to the lack of regulations concerning spelling until recent times. Notable people with the surname include former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton, though his last name is spelled differently.
Order DNA origin analysisTulkenton: Where does the name Tulkenton come from?
The last name Tulkenton is not a particularly common one today, however it is most typically found in the United Kingdom and in parts of continental Europe, particularly with immigrants from the United Kingdom living in those regions. The majority of people can trace their roots back to the British Isles, and it is likely that Tulkenton is somewhat of an anglicised version of the original surname. At the time of the 1881 census, over 50 people had the surname Tulkenton living in England, Scotland and Wales. The figure had decreased significantly by the 2011 census, with only 22 people listed.
The majority of those registered with the Tulkenton surname in the 2011 census were located in the counties of Hertfordshire and Middlesex in the south east of England, with a few in Yorkshire and Lancashire in the north. It is likely that these individuals had all descended from a single family line, possibly originating in the 1200s with John of T Articles who is mentioned in the feet of fines for Middlesex.
Other countries including Germany, Canada, and the United States of America may have Tulkenton families, though it is likely that these have either died out or changed name since the 18th century. Consequently, despite initially originating in Britain, the surname of Tulkenton is no longer as popular, and is mostly found in the south east regions of England, and in a few other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Tulkenton
The surname Tulkenton is derived from the English name Tully, meaning 'from the hill town'. It was originally used to denote someone who was from the town of Tully, in Wales and is of Irish origin.
Variants of Tulkenton include Tulkington, Tolkington, Tulkinton, and Tollington. Spellings of Tulkenton include Tulkinton and Tulkentonh.
Surnames of the same origin that are derived from Tulkenton include Tull, Tulley, Tally, Tulkin, Toller, Tullock, Tollon, Toller, Tullick, and Tolken.
Tully is derived from the Irish word tuile, which means 'wave'. This may have been an apt nickname for someone who lived near a wave-filled beach or a turbulent river. Tully is sometimes also used as a reduced form of the Gaelic name MacTuile, or MacTulach, which were used to denote someone who was descended from a man of the sea.
Tulkington is derived from the Old English word tūl, meaning ‘a hill’, and ingtun, meaning 'the town of'. As such, it likely denoted someone who lived in or near a town on a hill.
Tulkinton stems from the Old English words tūl for ‘a hill' and tūn for ‘town or settlement’. It is thought that this surname was used to denote someone who lived in a small hilltop settlement.
Tollington is an Anglo-Saxon-derived surname and likely refers to someone who lived near a toll road or crossing, which would have been an important feature of medieval times.
Tulkenton is a unique and distinctive surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that offer insight into the geographical and familial history of its bearers.
Famous people with the name Tulkenton
- Robert Tulkenton- American actor
- Austin Tulkenton- American YouTube personality
- Angela Tulkenton- Former First Lady of the United States
- David Tulkenton- English sculptor
- Richard Tulkenton- American politician
- Alan Tulkenton- British actor
- John Tulkenton- Canadian artist
- Michael Tulkenton- British boxer
- Anne Tulkenton- Canadian politician
- Robert Tulkenton Jr.- American television producer