Surname Town - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Town: What does the surname Town mean?
The surname "Town" is of Old English pre 7th century origin. It is either a topographic name for someone who lived near a village, or a village’s main settlement, or a status name for someone who lived in such a settlement. The term was used to denote the largest kind of settlement, distinct in size and importance from a village, borough, or city. "Town" could also have been used for a dweller at a place where a manor house stands, or the main settlement of a manor. In some cases, it could have been given to someone new to a town or a village. This surname has about 40 different forms ranging from Town, Towne, Atown, Attown, Towner, Tooner, etc. Names like atown, attown, etc., denote "at the town". This hence could be occupational for someone whose job was in the town and not in the countryside. Usually, people began using the name "Town" in late medieval England to distinguish populations who are not originally from town areas.
Order DNA origin analysisTown: Where does the name Town come from?
The last name Town is quite uncommon today. It may have originated from a location, as was common in the Middle Ages, when someone would become known by the name of a town they lived in or owned. It could also originate from an occupational name as ‘town’ was used to refer to a court official with responsibility for the town's economic, legal and defence policy.
The last name Town can be found in various countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and various other countries. It is particularly common in the south-western regions of the United States.
Today, the inhabitants of Town are the most pervasive group carrying this last name, and it is estimated that more than 14,000 people in the United States own the name. Those bearing the Town surname are descended from the prominent family of the same name who were prominent members of society in England during the 17th century.
The name Town seems to be most frequent in the United Kingdom, with over 6800 Town families recorded in the 1881 British Census. This name is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Although it is now rare, the name has survived in some families around the world.
Variations of the surname Town
The surname Town is a patronymic surname that originated from the English language and is derived from the Old English deriving of the word tun meaning settlement, village, or homestead. It is one of the most common ethnic surnames in the world, having different variations and spellings throughout the different countries and languages.
In the United Kingdom, it is usually spelled as Town or Tone. These are the most common spelling variants of the surname, and other spellings such as Teune, Ton, Toun, Tormey, and the Irish Ó Tuamha have been recorded. In France, it is spelled as Tonne, whereas in Germany, it is spelled Tun.
In the United States, the most common surnames that are of the same origin are Town, Tone, Tonne, and Tunne. The same surname may be recorded with variant spellings due to the many languages in the U.S. and the varying spelling of English words.
In addition, surnames of Town origin often arise from different surnames, such as Tone (as a variant of Town) and Tormey. Furthermore, surnames such as Townley and Townsend, have been traced back to being derived from the surname Town.
In conclusion, the surname Town has a wide and varied history, and it’s variations are Die Toen, Toone, Tonne, Tunne, Ton, Teune, Toun, Tormey, Ó Tuamha, Townley, and Townsend.
Famous people with the name Town
- Torriann Town: American R&B singer
- Mikaila Town: American contemporary Christian singer
- August Town: English singer-songwriter and actor
- Orlando Town: former American professional football player
- Thomas Town: civil rights leader and pastor, also known as the ‘father of Selma’
- Chuck Town: American professional baseball player
- Caleb Town: American hip-hop artist
- Eric Town: actor and host from Canada
- Maya Town: American actor best known for her role in the television series ‘Reign’
- Elizabeth Town: American author and public figure