Surname Tholkynton - Meaning and Origin

Tholkynton: What does the surname Tholkynton mean?

The last name Tholkynton is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English personal name ‘Tholcig’ or ‘Tholkic’, plus the element ‘ing’, meaning ‘of the family’ or ‘kin of’. Thus, the name translates into ‘kin of Tholcig’ or ‘kin of Tholkic’. The given personal name is derived from ‘þolian’, meaning ‘suffer’, with the addition of the Old English nickname suffix ‘ig’, which implies bravery.

The surname is recorded in many forms throughout history in the British Isles, including Tholkington, Tolkinton, Thorcott, Thorcut, and Thorckinton. Records of the name dating back to the late twelfth century in England include the grant of lands in the year of 1176 by King Henry II for ‘two Norks (now Norke) in the territory of Tholkynton in the county of Stafford’.

The name Tholkynton and its variants were numerous in the counties of Cheshire, Norfolk, Sussex, and Staffordshire in England. It is believed to have been introduced to the New World by settlers sometime in the 17th century. Today, the name can be found in many English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

Tholkynton: Where does the name Tholkynton come from?

The last name Tholkynton does not appear to be a very common surname, as records show it is present in less than 250 different countries worldwide. However, it is mainly found in the United Kingdom, primarily in the Midlands region. Specifically, it is most common in the counties of Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire.

Within the United Kingdom, most inhabitants with the surname can trace their ancestry back to a single family. Records suggest that the family originated some 200 years ago in the rural area of Warwickshire. Over the generations, members of the original family have become widely dispersed as they have migrated throughout the United Kingdom, as far afield as London and many other England counties, Wales, and Scotland.

Tholkynton is also present in other countries around the world, but it is much less common than within United Kingdom. Records show Tholkynton present in Canada, United States, Australia, India, and some parts of Europe and Africa.

Overall, the surname Tholkynton is not overly common, but it is mostly found centered around the Midlands region of the United Kingdom. However, with its wide dispersal, it is becoming more common in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Tholkynton

Tholkynton is a rare English surname, most likely originating in the town of Thorpe in the county of Kent, England. It first appeared in records in the mid-1400s and is thought to be derived from Old Norse and Middle English sources. The variants of Tholkynton include Thorkeington, Thorkington, Thorckinton, Torrington, Thorkenton, and Thurkinton.

The spelling variants of Tholkynton, Thorkeington, Thorkington, and Thorckinton, are all derived from a root word of Thorpe, which is a common element in many British place names. Alternatively, Torrington is derived from the Old Norse 'torr', meaning 'A rocky hill or outcrop'.

The surnames Thorkenton and Thurkinton can be seen as possible misspellings of Tholkynton, where there has been the substitution of K in place of the LK in Tholkynton.

There is some evidence that Thorkeington and Thorkington might be two related families, as the variants only appear in records for entirely different areas in the United Kingdom, with fewer instances of a single family bearing both variants.

It is possible that the Tholkynton surname underwent some changes over time in order to adapt to local dialects, which might explain the abundance of variants to be found in 16th and 17th century records.

Despite its rarity, it is known that the Tholkynton surname is not exclusive to England, with several families being found in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. Furthermore, it is believed that several of the variant spellings of the Tholkynton surname may have been adopted by young people in the past, who would have returned to their homeland after living abroad, or simply in order to have a more unique and unusual surname.

Famous people with the name Tholkynton

• John Tholkynton: British actor, best known for portrayals of loveable rogues.
• Beatrice Tholkynton: British socialite and philanthropist.
• Kevan Tholkynton: Canadian-born actor, appearing in films such as Boiler Room and The Butterfly Effect.
• Charlie Tholkynton: British polo player, won the Queen Alexandra Cup in 2017.
• Molly Tholkynton: British professional windsurfer, medalist in multiple world championships.
• Lenin Tholkynton: British architect, designer of several landmark buildings in London.
• Charles Tholkynton: British artist, painter and illustrator working mainly in oils and watercolours.
• James Tholkynton: British musician, played lead guitar with the band The Church.
• Mark Tholkynton: British entrepreneur, founder of Tholkynton and Sons, a commercial and private banking firm.
• Amy Tholkynton: British singer-songwriter, released her debut EP ‘InFinite’ in 2020.

Other surnames

Tholkyngton