Surname Tarrant - Meaning and Origin

Tarrant: What does the surname Tarrant mean?

The last name Tarrant is of English origin and was found mainly in the East Anglian counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. It is an occupational surname, derived from the Norman French word "tarente", meaning "puller of carts". It was used to describe a person who performed this job. The spelling of the surname evolved over time, from Tarton to Tarrant.

The surname was found mainly in Norfolk and Suffolk, with a few other scattered occurrences in Derbyshire and London. In Norfolk, there were references to families of the name in the villages of Toft Monks and Belton. At the same time, in Derbyshire, records show the name in Chesterfield and Eastwood.

In modern times, the last name Tarrant is associated with the work of William J. Tarrant, an inventor and engineer who was responsible for designing the first efficient railway locomotive in 1815.

The surname has also been used as an assumed name by some fictional characters, such as the villainous Captain Tarrant from the popular novel "From Russia with Love" by Ian Fleming.

Throughout history, the surname Tarrant has been mainly associated with people whose occupations involved the transport of goods and commodities. It is also linked to an influential figure in the development of locomotives, as well as giving rise to some notable fictional characters.

Tarrant: Where does the name Tarrant come from?

The last name Tarrant is predominantly found within England, particularly in the southern regions. However, it can also be found in countries such as Scotland, Wales, France, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Belgium.

In England, the Tarrant name dates back to the 11th century in Bristol. It was given to those living near the River Tarr, which is located near the city. This suggests that many with the surname are likely descended from the same ancestor who first coined it.

In recent times, the name Tarrant has become increasingly common throughout England as a whole. It is most exceedingly found in Bristol and Lancashire. Additionally, the highest concentrations of Tarrants around England are by the South Somerset Coast and the coast of East Yorkshire.

Australia also has a large presence of Tarrants, with the majority coming from the eastern coastal areas, where the most significant concentrations can be found in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.

In regards to the United States, the surname Tarrant is found in Michigan, Mississippi, Georgia, Colorado, and certain areas of New York. Its lowest presence is in Wyoming and Oklahoma.

Extraiccly, the surname Tarrant can be found in some parts of Canada, where concentrations are primarily located near the greater Toronto metropolitan area.

In summary, the Tarrant surname is most commonplace in England, Australia, and some parts of the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Tarrant

The surname Tarrant is derived from the Old French word 'taranter', which meant 'to thunder', suggesting that the power and strength of thunder was an attribute of the family. It is thought to have originally been a nickname for a particularly brave warrior.

Variants of the surname Tarrant include Tarrent,Tarran,Tarrin,Taren,Terrance,Tarrant,Tarrence,Terran,Terant,Tarrance and Tarrence.

Spellings of the surname Tarrant can vary between countries and dialects; in England it can reached its current form of Tarrant, while in some regions the spelling Tarrent is most common.

Surnames of similar origin include Tarrington, Tarrenton, Tarrantino, Tarranto,Tarrinton, and Torrance.

The surname Tarrant has also been widely adopted by those with Irish heritage, typically as a result of an English ancestor settling in Ireland. Variants of the surname include O'Tarrant, Tarrenton and O'Tarran.

Finally, the surname Tarrant is sometimes found as a given name, commonly transformed into Terry or Terrance. Other variations include Terri, Terrell, Tarran, and Tarrence.

Famous people with the name Tarrant

• Greg Tarrant: an American professional basketball player, he played in the NBA from 1996 to 2000 for the Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks.
• Mark Tarrant: an Australian professional racquetball player, he won the 2011 Australian Open and the 2011 World Championships.
• Richard Tarrant: a British former professional footballer, he played for several teams including Millwall, Tottenham Hotspur, and Portsmouth.
• Robert Tarrant: an English racing cyclist, he won numerous national and international events and represented Great Britain at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• Miriam Tarrant: a British actress, best known for her roles in films such as "Ladies in Lavender" and "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy".
• Peter Tarrant: an Australian television news presenter, he has worked at ABC News and Sky News.
• Ryan Tarrant: an Australian stand-up comedian best known for his appearances on the TV series Rove Live.
• Tom Tarrant: an English composer, he wrote music for films including "Gulliver's Travels" and "The Firm".
• Robert Tarrant: a Church of England Bishop, he served as Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham from 1993 to 2006.
• Ronald Tarrant: a British comic strip artist, he worked for the Daily Mirror and The Beano.

Other surnames

Tarra­n