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Surname Tannahill - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'T'

Tannahill: What does the surname Tannahill mean?

The surname Tannahill is of Scottish origin and derives from a geographical location. It is believed to be a habitational name from an unidentified place possibly in the border region of Scotland, named with the Old English elements "tāna" meaning "twig" and "hyll" meaning "hill". Thus, the meaning of Tannahill can be interpreted as "hill of twigs". Like many surnames, over the centuries, the spelling and pronunciation might have changed. The Tannahill surname is relatively rare, and individuals with this last name can often trace their lineage back to Scotland. It was popularized by the Scottish poet Robert Tannahill, often referred to as the 'Weaver Poet,' who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

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Tannahill: Where does the name Tannahill come from?

The last name Tannahill is a clan name from Scotland, believed to derive from the name "Tanquhill", which is an old Scots form of "Tanguedhill" meaning "valley of fire". Historically, the surname has been most common in the Scottish counties of Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and many Tannahill families can be found in these areas today.

In the United States, there is a strong concentration of the Tannahill family name in Pennsylvania and Ohio. This likely reflects the wave of Scottish immigration to these locations in the early part of the twentieth century. There is also a notable concentration of the surname in Texas, which is likely the result of Scots-Irish immigrants from Pennsylvania who settled in Texas in the 1800s.

Today, the surname Tannahill is still found in many parts of the world, including Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other nations. As Scotland continues to move closer to becoming a more socially and culturally unified nation in the 21st century, more Scots abroad are looking to reconnect with their roots and the Tannahill name is likely to become even more ubiquitous.

Variations of the surname Tannahill

The surname Tannahill is of Scottish origin, and has been found in English-speaking countries around the world. It is derived from an Old Gaelic name, likely derived from the name of a place – either ‘Tanaith’ or ‘Taneously’.

The most common variant spelling of the name is Tannihill or Tannihalle. These are most commonly seen in England and Scotland. Other variant spellings include Tannihal, Tannihale, Tannihill, and Tannihil.

The surname Tannahill can also be spelled Tanahill, Tannhill, Tannhil, Tannahalle, Tannhile, and Tannhelle.

In the United States, the spellings Tanahill and Tannahills are most popular.

Surnames that are believed to be of the same origin, or to have derived from the same original family, include Tennehail, Tennahill, Tenahil, Tennhil, Tenihil, Tennhale, Tenhhale, Tanehill, Tonhill, Tannhill, Tannehill, Tinnahill, Tinahle, Tinnahill, and Teinhail.

In countries such as Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, the surname is sometimes seen with an ‘O’ prefix, making it O’Tannahill.

The surnames mentioned here are primarily seen in English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, although variations in spelling have been found in other countries around the world.

Famous people with the name Tannahill

  • Andrew Tannahill: American music director. Best known for his multiple Emmy-nominated work on the NBC sitcom, Friends.
  • Marc Tannahill: Australian theatre actor and playwright. He was the founder and artistic director of the Jane Street Theatre Company.
  • Jim Tannahill: American professional basketball player and sportscaster. He was drafted in the 1968 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.
  • Mark Tannahill: Scottish folk musician and songwriter. His albums include Free and Easy and Mouth Music.
  • Mary Tannahill: Scottish artist and illustrator. She is well-known for her work on the Tannahill Weavers album, Leaving St. Kilda.
  • Peter Tannahill: American graphic designer and artist. He’s well-known for his distinctive and often surrealistic record covers.
  • Rob Tannahill: Canadian folk singer, songwriter, and guitar player. He has released six albums including My Mother's Shoulder and Between I & You.
  • Ruth Tannahill: Canadian novelist. Her works include A Week of This and Always the Same.
  • Stan Tannahill: Canadian actor and playwright. He was a founding member of the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC.
  • Tim Tannahill: American author and historian. His books include Viking Pirates and the Dawn of Discovery and An African Trading Empire.

Other surnames

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