Surname Townsen - Meaning and Origin
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Townsen: What does the surname Townsen mean?
The surname Townsen, often spelled Townsend or Townshend, is of English origin and is derived from a geographical locality. It means "the end of the town" or "at the town's end". It originally described someone who lived at the edge or outskirts of a town or village. The name became popular in England during the Middle Ages when property or lands were distinguished by their location relative to a main settlement. Many people were identified by their place of residence and such names became hereditary surnames under the local landowners. The addition of “sen” or “son” at the end like in “Townsen” could possibly indicate the son of someone from the town's end. Traditional English and Scandinavian naming conventions often included the father's name or occupation as part of the child's name for identification purposes.
Order DNA origin analysisTownsen: Where does the name Townsen come from?
The surname Townsen is most closely associated with British, Irish, and Welsh origins. It is not as common today as it once was, but there are still numerous variations of the surname found throughout the English-speaking world.
In addition to the United Kingdom, many townsend families have emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand over the last hundred years. The surname is particularly strong in the American Midwest and South, and there are large populations of townsends in such states as Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and New York.
Townsend has also become common in other parts of the world, such as India, where many British ex-pats have settled. Likewise, there has also been a recorded increase of Townsen throughout continental Europe, particularly in Norway and Germany. The surname is often misspelled as Townsley or Townley in these regions. The name is also common in Mexico and Latin America, as it has been adopted by several prominent families in these regions.
Overall, the frequency of the surname Townsen may be declining slowly but it is still considered to be quite common throughout the English-speaking world today.
Variations of the surname Townsen
Townsen is a surname that can take various forms and spellings. It can be found in records as Townson, Townsands, Townsend, and Townsends. It is an English and Scottish patronymic surname from the Old English tun and saen or sin meaning "son of the town". It may also be of German origin, derived from the Middle High German “tonen” meaning “to sound/ring”; Townsend was likely originally an occupational surname, denoting a person who owned or lived in a farmstead near a town. Due to its root in the Middle High German word, “dorf” which means “village”, the surname may also refer to the “town dweller”.
Records of the name date back to the early 13th century, when Robert de Toneres appears in the Feet of Fines of Norfolk in the year 1220. William Ton(n)eson is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk in 1279, and later, Alexander Toune is recorded in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls in 1335. Other bearers of the surname include Henry Towneson, who married Elizabeth Watson at St. James’ Church, Clerkenwell, London in 1670 and Jane Right Townsend, who married Jonathan Penny at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, London in 1791.
Townsen can also take the forms of Towns, Townsley, Townlee, Townlee-Jones, Townhill, Townley, and Townhill-Jones. It is also possible that the surname originates from the Old Norse personal name “Tofi” and the suffix “-un”, meaning “son of Tofi”. This variant form is often seen as Towns. Townsley could have also evolved from the Old English words “tun” and “leah” meaning “enclosure of the farmstead” or “estate”.
Famous people with the name Townsen
- David Townsend: American comedian, actor, and writer
- Robert Townsend: American actor, comedian, director, and writer
- Ty Townsend: American fashion entrepreneur and reality television star
- Dustin Townsend: Former American professional soccer player
- Don Townsen: American architect
- Elaine Townsend: Canadian actress
- Johnny Townsend: American professional football player
- William Townsend: English Baroque composer
- Steve Townsend: American jam band musician
- Marisa Townsen: American independent film producer, filmmaker, and editor
- Darryl Towns: American politician
- Orville Townsend: Canadian professional football player
- Gary Townsend: American jazz saxophonist and composer
- Tim Townsend: American professional football player
- Benjamin Towns: English children’s novelist and illustrator