Surname Tellinghurst - Meaning and Origin
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Tellinghurst: What does the surname Tellinghurst mean?
The last name Tellinghurst derives from a place name, which can be found in East Sussex, England. Tellinghurst is a small hamlet located just east of the village of Hellingly, and records of its existence go back as far as 1086.
The name is thought to mean 'a hill where thistle grow' or 'the hill of the thistle place', deriving from the Old English words 'thistel' and 'hyrst', which together form 'thistle-hurst'. The presence of thistle in the area likely had symbolic significance to the Anglo-Saxons, as the Tubero family of the 1st century AD considered it a noble plant.
Historically, Tellinghurst has been closely associated with the Playsted and Tester families. The Playsteds owned most of the land in the area subject to the King's demesne, while the Testers assumed ownership in 1211. The importance of both families is reflected in the fact that there is still a Playsted Close and a Tester Close in the hamlet.
Tellinghurst's history is a long and interesting one, and those with the last name can be proud that it is linked to a place that was of considerable importance to local people throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisTellinghurst: Where does the name Tellinghurst come from?
The last name Tellinghurst is present most prominently in the United States today. It is found most often in the Pacific Northwest, especially around Washington and Oregon. Tellinghurst families can also be found in California, Arizona and Nevada.
The history of the Tellinghurst family in the US can be traced back to the 1700s. According to genealogical records, the first Tellinghurst immigrants were from Europe, likely originating from England or Germany. As the colonies began to form, several Tellinghurst families moved to what is now the US. These original families have since branched out to form larger communities, meaning that people with the last name of Tellinghurst can be found in states all across the country, though the Pacific Northwest remains the largest concentration.
The Tellinghurst surname has also spread to the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Records from these countries suggest that the family dispersed outwards from Europe from around the same time as in the US. Today, Tellinghurst is still a relatively rare name, with only a few hundred families still bearing the surname worldwide.
Variations of the surname Tellinghurst
Tellinghurst is a surname of English origin which has several variants and spellings.
The most common variants of the surname are Tellingshurst, Tellinghirst, Tillinghurst, Tillinghirst, and Tillingshurst. Spellings of the surname may also include Telingshurst, Tellingshirst, Tyllingshurst, and Tyllingshirst.
Surnames of similar origin to Tellinghurst include Tullinghurst, Tullinghirst, and Tullingshurst.
Other variant spelling and surnames of similar origin may be derived from placenames in England such as Talingshurst, Tallingshirst, Talkinghurst, Talkinghirst, Taellingshurst, Taellingshirst, Tyalinghurst, Tyalinhirst, Tyallingshurst, and Tyallingshirst.
Additionally, Tellinghurst is often shortened to the aliases Tellings or Tillings.
Variants and spellings of the surname Tellinghurst can be found in records dating as far back as the 13th century, where it appeared as part of a poem about Sir John Tellinghurst, a knight who lived in Sussex. The poem called Tellinghurst “the knight of the Fort” signifying his noble state.
Today, Tellinghurst is predominantly found as surname in the United Kingdom, with related spellings and variants found at a much lesser frequency.
Famous people with the name Tellinghurst
- Tobias Tellinghurst: a Swedish actor and comedian, known for his roles in the television series Tagga! and Krusidullerna Götaland.
- Peleg Tellinghurst: a British sculptor, landscape artist and engraver active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- John Tellinghurst: an Australian rugby player who played for the Waratahs in the mid-1990s.
- David Tellinghurst: an English composer and music producer, best known for his work on the video game Evil Genius.
- Roger Tellinghurst: an English television, film and theatre actor, who has appeared in several plays including The Tempest and The Merchant of Venice.
- Henry Tellinghurst: a 19th century artist and printmaker active in Canada, and a founding member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour in 1867.
- William Tellinghurst: a Canadian politician and railway worker, who held various political offices, including Mayor of the city of Ottawa from 1897-1900.
- Richard Tellinghurst: an English illustrator and engraver, mainly active in the early 19th century.
- Sam Tellinghurst: a British composer and pianist, whose works were performed in the Royal Albert Hall.
- Harold Tellinghurst: an English conservationist and travel writer, who wrote extensively on the flora and fauna of East Africa.