Surname Twaddell - Meaning and Origin
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Twaddell: What does the surname Twaddell mean?
The surname Twaddell is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Old English words “Twa” (two) and “dell” (valley, glen or pastoral setting). The Twaddell name was likely derived from the idea that two dells or glens were associated with their family name. The surname Twaddell first appeared in Scotland in the early 12th century during the reign of King David I of Scotland. It is believed that the family was granted land by the king and adopted the name in reference to the two unconnected valleys near their land.
There are a few other derivations of the Twaddell surname, including Tweedele (from Old German meaning “valley” or “dell), Tudhope (from the Old English “tudor” meaning “selected” or “discriminating” and “hop” meaning “valley” or “glen”) and Tawdsdale (from “tawd” meaning “a space between two hills, or “dale” which is another Old English term for “valley”).
The Twaddell surname is mostly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland and is associated with the Paradox of Ulster, which is the phenomenon of many Scottish families living in Northern Ireland. It has also been suggested that the Twaddell surname is a variation of the Welsh surname Tawdles, which is derived from the Old English “tawd” meaning “meadow” or “virgin land”.
The Twaddell family has a long and proud heritage, with many descendants in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Twaddell surname is a reminder of the family’s Scottish origins, rooted in the lands surrounding the dells. The Twaddell family continues to contribute to the rich cultural heritage of Scotland and Northern Ireland and proudly bears its unique surname.
Order DNA origin analysisTwaddell: Where does the name Twaddell come from?
The last name Twaddell is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, specifically in the counties of Antrim, Down, Derry and Armagh. Historically, the name has Irish origins and may have started as a form of the Irish surname "Tuathail", which is derived from "tuathal", meaning "kind" or "generous".
It has also been found in England, Scotland, Canada and the United States, but is concentrated primarily in Northern Ireland. The surname is quite rare in America, and is not considered to be one of the most common surnames, but it does show up in records of many generations.
The Twaddell family have been in Ireland since at least the 1700s, when the earliest records of the surname were noted. The family seemed to have originated in County Armagh. Throughout the years the family's name spread, though not in vast numbers. In 1841, the name was recorded in 4 separate households, but by 1901 the total number of households recorded with the name had grown to 11.
The Twaddell surname is considered to be an uncommon and ancient surname, but even today the name is still seen in Northern Ireland, though the recorded amount of households with the surname has decreased considerably since 1901.
Variations of the surname Twaddell
The surname Twaddell is believed to be of Scottish origin, derived from the Olde English given name Twaddel or Tweddell. It is a personal name which originally meant 'son of Twada', itself likely a derivative of the name Tudor. It is likely that the original spelling of the name was Twaddell or Tweddell, though it has been found in many other variations over the centuries. Variations of this surname include Twadle, Twaddle, Twedall, Twedall, Twedell, Tweedale, Tweedall, Tweedle, Twyddel, Twedelle, and Twydell.
When emigrating, it is likely that Twaddell's had their name Anglicized, leading to an additional array of spellings and surnames. Alternative spellings of this surname include Taddel, Taddell, Tadhill, Twadel, Twadell, Taddel and Taddal. Some surnames derived from Twaddell include Twadale, Twidell, Twinle, Twirdle, Twisdell, Twissel and Twitchel.
Though many of these variations of the surname Twaddell have become rare over the centuries, it still remains a common family name in Scotland. The Twaddell clan can be found in a variety of locations, with many having emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Famous people with the name Twaddell
- Amos Twaddell (American 9th Congressional District Representative from Pennsylvania)
- Will Twaddell (founder of a film studio)
- Kit Twaddell (American baseball player)
- Charles Twaddell (Irish cricketer)
- Josh Twaddell (American football player)
- Morris Twaddell (American architect)
- Gavin Twaddell (American poet and filmmaker)
- Thomas Twaddell (American civil war soldier)
- Henry Twaddell (American farmer and state legislator)
- Lloyd Twaddell (American jazz trombonist and bandleader)