Surname Tann - Meaning and Origin
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Tann: What does the surname Tann mean?
The last name Tann is a German ethnic name. It is derived from the Middle High German word "tan", which means "fir tree". It is a habitational name from any of various places named with this word; most likely from a topographic name in which a fir tree was a distinguishing feature of the landscape.
The geographical distribution of the surname Tann is quite widespread; it is most common in Germany and Austria, but it is also found in the United States, Canada, France, and Norway. It can also be found within Jewish communities throughout Europe.
The name Tann is most likely a nickname for a person who was interpreting, writing, or selling the bark of fir trees. This type of job was not unusual in the Germanic-speaking areas in the Middle Ages, where certain properties of fir bark, such as its medicinal uses, could make it a valued commodity.
The name Tann may also be derived from a place where fir trees were abundant. The name Tann could have traveled to other countries and was likely adopted by people moving to another country or area.
Tann is often found in various forms in some of these places, such as Tan,Tanne, Tanna, Tajn, Tain, Tane, Tanne, Taanne, and Tånn.
To sum up, the last name 'Tann' is German in origin, and is likely either a nickname for a person who sold or interpreted fir-tree bark, or a topographic name associated with a place where fir trees were abundant. It is most common in Germany, Austria, and parts of Europe. The name is also found in the United States, Canada, France, and Norway, and in various forms such as Tan, Tanne, Tanna, Tajn, Tain, Tane, Tanne, Taanne, and Tånn.
Order DNA origin analysisTann: Where does the name Tann come from?
The last name Tann is common in many countries around the world. It is especially popular in Central and Eastern Europe, where it is often associated with German and Jewish communities.
In Germany, Tann is the 17th most common surname of German origin. In Poland, it is also one of the most common names, ranked 54th. In Austria, Tann is the 11th most popular. It is also fairly common in Belarus and the Czech Republic.
In Israel, the surname Tann is present amongst Jewish descendants of Central and Eastern European immigrants. People with the surname are especially concentrated in the cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, as well as Jerusalem and other parts of the country.
In the United States, the surname Tann is especially common in the state of New York, where it is ranked as the 15th most common in the state. Tann is also quite popular in other areas of the United States, such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, where it is amongst the top 50 common surnames.
Finally, the last name Tann is also common in the United Kingdom, where it is ranked the 25th most common surname of British origin. It is also present in Australia, New Zealand, and a variety of other countries.
Variations of the surname Tann
The surname Tann is also spelled as Tan, Thann, Thahn, or Tanne. Derivatives of the surname include Tannehill, Tannahill, and Tannen. The Scottish variant of the Tann surname is known as Tannahill, which is derived from the placename Tannahill, or Glasgow in Scotland. It is likely that the surname was derived from the personal name of a relative or ancestor, or could have developed from a former trade or occupation.
The Dutch surname Tann is possibly a derivation of the Middle Dutch or Middle German name 'Tannhäuser', which itself is a combination of two Middle Gaelic words 'tann' (meaning 'fire') and 'hause', or 'haus' (meaning 'house'). Other names derived from Tann are Tanning, Tanner, and Tanneberger.
The German variant Tann is derived from the German word 'Tanne' which can refer to a fir tree. It is also possible the German surname could come from the root word 'tannen', meaning 'to tan', referring to people employed to treat animal skin with chemicals and transform them into leather.
The Jewish surname Tann is linked to the Hebrew word 'tannin', meaning sea monster, and may have been chosen because the families were active sailors. Other spellings of the Jewish Tann surname include Tanne, Tannenbaum (meaning 'fir tree'), Tannenberg, and Tennenbaum.
Overall, Tann is a surname that has numerous variants, spellings, and derivatives from many different origins. Despite the varied spellings, they all stem from some element of the root Tann.
Famous people with the name Tann
- Steven Tann, former football player for the University of Arizona.
- Norman Tann, founder of the successful business executive search firm ‘Tann International’.
- Lothar Tann, German football manager who won the German Football Manager of the Year Award in 2006.
- Carrie Tann, singer/songwriter who released her debut single ‘Coming Home’ in 2014.
- Bob Tann, former British Olympic rower who competed in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Glenn Tann, British actor who was featured in Stanley Kubrick’s classic film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’.
- Gordon Tann, American engineer and president of the National Society of Professional Engineers.
- Walter Tann, actress who has appeared on Broadway, most notably in the play ‘With the Lights Out’.
- Mark Tann, English journalist and television presenter who hosted the ‘Good Morning Britain’ show.
- David Tann, American soccer player who is currently playing for the National Premier Soccer League’s Detroit City FC.