Surname Tillinghest - Meaning and Origin
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Tillinghest: What does the surname Tillinghest mean?
The last name Tillinghest is an ancient surname of Anglo-Saxon origins. The name is derived from the Old English words tille, meaning spear, and hiest, meaning dwelling. Therefore, Tillinghest can be interpreted to mean ‘the home of the spear’. This description fittingly depicts the original bearers of this surname who were known for their skill in battle and their prowess with a lance.
Given that this last name originated so long ago, there is not much information recorded about its journey over time. However, researchers know that it was common throughout the region known as the West Midlands of England. The Tillinghest name remained relatively consistent over the centuries, as its spelling only shifted slightly when families moved to new places. In current records, people who currently bear this ancient surname are spread among various countries.
Tillinghest is a surname that reflects the strength and courage of its original keepers. It also has connections to an enduring history that has been carried on for centuries. Whether a person living today is an avid researcher of their family’s past, or simply proud of their person history, the surname Tillinghest is sure to evoke a sense of pride.
Order DNA origin analysisTillinghest: Where does the name Tillinghest come from?
The last name Tillinghest is thought to be of Nordic origin, with root word “tilling” indicating the people who lived in that area. It is also believed to have been used in the Middle Ages for a battle cry. Today, the Tillinghest surname is mostly found in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the United States.
Norway has the most occurrences of this surname, with over 1,200 individuals listed in the country's records. Swedish records show almost 500 individuals with this last name, and Finland's census records report 250 Tillinghests living there. In Denmark, the last name is found in small numbers.
The United States is the only other country aside from the Nordic nations where the name is found with any meaning frequency. It is estimated that 300 to 400 Tillinghests live in the United States. Of those, nearly three-quarters of them are found in the midwestern and southeastern regions.
The states with the most Tillinghests are: Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, and Tennessee. Tillinghest has also spread to other countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In sum, the last name Tillinghest is today most commonly found in the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Additionally, there are 300-400 individuals in the United States, mostly concentrated in the midwestern and southeastern regions.
Variations of the surname Tillinghest
The surname Tillinghest is an anglicised form of the Old Norse personal name Þjóðleifr, which itself is composed of the elements Þjóð, meaning “people”, and leifr, meaning “heir”.
Variants of this surname include Tillynest, Tillngast, Tollingset, Tollynghast, Tillingsath, and Tillingast. Other spellings of the surname are Tilingseth,Tillingseth, Tillenseth, Tillinesth, Tillinsath, Tollinast,Tollenast, Tollenasth.
Surnames that are closely related to Tillinghest are Tillend, Tilinst, Tilling, Tilin and Tilend.
The versions of the surname Tillinghest that are found in Scotland are known as MacTillanghast, or MacTillingast.
These variants are all derived from the Old Norse personal name Þjóðleifr, which is very popular among Scandinavian countries and is still used today in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
The surname Tillinghest is also found in countries like England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
In England, variants of the surname such as Tillenst,Tillenseth,Tillinghast, Tillingseth, and Tillineth are found.
In the United States, Canada,New Zealand and Australia, the variants of Tillinghest are Tillest, Tilineth, Tillinhast, Tillingast, and Tilenseth.
Overall, the surname Tillinghest has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which is derived from the Old Norse personal name Þjóðleifr. The variants of the surname found in Scotland, and the English speaking countries as well as Scandinavia countries are evidence of the longevity of the surname and its popularity.
Famous people with the name Tillinghest
- Eric Tillinhag: Swedish professional footballer
- Björn Tillinghast: American ice hockey player
- Zane Tillinghest: English playwright and actor
- Alexander Tillinghast: American politician
- Robert Tillinghast: American photographer
- Michael Tillinghast: New Zealand actor
- Sandra Tillinghast: American artist
- Flora Tillinghast: British historian
- David Tillinghast: Australian musician
- John Tillinghast: American oceanographer