Surname Tillingharst - Meaning and Origin
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Tillingharst: What does the surname Tillingharst mean?
The last name Tillingharst is a topographical surname originating in the Germanic region of Lower Saxony. It derived from the Middle High German words for "Tille", meaning a furrow or ditch, and "harn", meaning a border. This surname literally translates to "border furrow", and was most likely associated with a place or a geographic feature.
The exact origin of this surname is uncertain, however it is believed that it most likely had its beginnings in medieval times or earlier. At that time, it was common to name certain regions, towns, or landmarks based on one or two key features. In this instance, it is imagined that the "border furrow" offered a unique and geographically recognizable feature that could easily be described and referred to.
In modern times, the Tillingharst surname is not overly common. Those who find it among their ancestors may derive a sense of pride and connection to their distant past. The initial association with a region or particular land feature lends itself to the concept of having a deep rooted, ancestral tie to the land. Additionally, the unique surname serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of physical and geographic identities.
Order DNA origin analysisTillingharst: Where does the name Tillingharst come from?
Tillingharst is an uncommon surname, most commonly found in the United States. Specifically, the most concentration of individuals with this name can be found clustered within the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon.
According to Ancestry.com, there are currently 436 individuals listed as living with the surname Tillingharst in the United States. Of this number, 224 of these individuals are living in Illinois. Indiana follows with a total of 114 Tillingharsts, and Oregon comes last with 98 individuals.
Those tracing their ancestry can look to J. D. Tillingharst as the progenitor of the line in America. He arrived at Ellis Island in New York City in 1901, coming from German as a political refugee. J.D. quickly became settled into the United States and eventually went to South Dakota in search of work.
It is from this initial settlement that the majority of Tillingharsts now living in the US trace their connection. DNA analysis of this family shows that the Tillingharst genes are a strong mixture of German, British, and Dutch ancestry.
The current day Tillingharsts are found scattered throughout America, reaching as far as California and Mississippi. Generally, the majority remain close to the original clusters in Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon. This close relationship hints at the strong family bonds and loyalty this line of people likes to share, even though they are now spread far and wide across the country.
Variations of the surname Tillingharst
The surname 'Tillingharst' is an English variation of a Germanic or Dutch-derived name. It is likely derived from the Middle Dutch word 'Tille-enge', or 'Tillengharts', literally meaning a 'forest of thorns'. In Old English, it was written 'Tilleburne', which has also been used as a variation of the original name. The spelling of Tillingharst has changed throughout the years, so there are now many different versions and spellings.
Variants include Tillinghurst, Tillinghirst, Tillingshirst, Tillingshurst, and Thillingshurst. Less common variants and spellings are Tillingest, Tillengharst, Tillyngarst, Tillyngherst, Tillyngurst, Tillingehurst, Tillingheard, Tilleheard, Talengerst, and Talinghurst.
In addition to the variants above, the surname is also closely associated with surnames like Tillemann, Tillman, Tilghman, Tilgman, Tillmazen, and Tellman. These variations may have been created as immigrants arrived in the Americas during the 18th and 19th centuries with continuous changes to spelling.
Today, Tillingharst is a relatively rare surname, but it can still be found in many parts of the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.
Famous people with the name Tillingharst
- Terry Tillinghast: Former VP of Marketplaces at TripAdvisor and Co-founder of UpTake.
- Cody Tillinghast: American short track speed skater and silver medalist at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Bill Tillinghast: American television writer and director who worked on the hit show ‘Family Ties’ and co-produced ‘The Wonder Years’.
- Louis Tillinghast: All-American basketball player at Boston University and member of the 1988 NBA Draft.
- Darren Tillinghast: Retired Associate Geologist for Coastal Geology at the Geology and Coastal Resources Division in Hawaii.
- Sandra Tillinghast: CEO and Co-founder of the strategic consulting firm TDPC.
- Daniel Tillinghast: American artist and author best known for his works on human evolution and genetic engineering.
- Richard Tillinghast: Professor Emeritus of English at Fairfield University and noted poet.
- Gay Tillinghast: Award-winning military historian at the United States Military Academy.
- Laurence Tillinghast: American politician from Rhode Island and former Member of the House of Representatives.