Surname Tower - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tower: What does the surname Tower mean?
The surname Tower is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English term "torr," meaning "tower." It was a topographic name for someone who lived near a tower, typically a defensive fortification or watchtower. It could also be an occupational name for someone who either worked in such a structure or was responsible for its upkeep or defense. This surname is common in England and Scotland, reflecting the presence of numerous towers across these regions dating back to the Middle Ages. Like many other surnames, it has variations including Towers, Towere, and Tour. Over time, these names have spread across the globe as people have migrated, making Tower a truly international surname. Today, the name continues to be associated with strength and fortitude, in line with the structures that it was originally connected with.
Order DNA origin analysisTower: Where does the name Tower come from?
The last name Tower is most common in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau, Tower is the 1,707th most popular surname in the country. The largest concentrations of people with the last name can be found in the northern states of Maine and Massachusetts.
In Maine, Tower is the 270th most popular surname while in Massachusetts, it's the 431st. In these states, cities like Boston, Lewiston, and Manchester have a high frequency of the name Tower. In other states, such as New Jersey and Texas, the last name Tower is not as common.
Outside of the United States, Tower is less common, but the name can be found in Canada, Australia, and the UK. In Great Britain, Tower is ranked 12,954th, while in Canada, it's 5,224th. Canada's largest cities, such as Toronto and Montreal, also have a significant presence of the Tower surname. Additionally, Tower appears in smaller numbers in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and India.
In conclusion, the last name Tower is most common in the US, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and India.
Variations of the surname Tower
The surname Tower is of Old English origin which means 'a look-out position'. There are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Tower. These include Towar, Towarne, Towere, Towor, Towerne, Touer, Touere, Touerne, Tauer, Tauern, Tauerne, Touwour, Tuar, Tuarne, Tuare, Tuarn, Tuarne, Twar, Twarne, Twer, Twere, Tworne, Tworre, Tyar, Tyare, Tyarne and Tyer.
Most of the variants ending in ‘r’ can be attributed to Germanic influences on the spelling of British surnames. The variant Towarne is of particular note as it was used primarily in the counties of Herefordshire and Shropshire during the 13th century and was likely derived from an otherwise unknown Old English personal name.
The variants Tyar, Tyare and Tyarne are found mainly in Scotland and have a probable relationship to the variant Taer, also of Scottish origin. These forms of Tower are derived from a Gaelic form of the place-name Tarbert which is found near Argyll, Scotland.
The spelling Towere is believed to be a Norman version of Tower and is found mainly in counties along the southern coast of England. The spelling Towor is most likely an adaptation of Towere, and the surname Towor was used primarily in London and Kent during the 13th century.
In summary, there are numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Tower. Each spelling reflects a unique origin or derivation.
Famous people with the name Tower
- Richard Tower: English author, radio broadcaster and journalist
- Lockwood Tower: American educator, teacher and prominent social reformer
- William E. Tower: American lawyer and politician
- Eric Tower: English-Australian aviator and World War II pilot
- Sharon Tower Gibbs: American politician
- Frank G. Tower: American actor
- Damon Tower: American actor and audio engineer
- Bonnie Tower: American sculptor
- Geoffrey Tower: English surgeon
- J.J. Tower: American banker and entrepreneur