Surname Thillinghast - Meaning and Origin
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Thillinghast: What does the surname Thillinghast mean?
The last name Thillinghast is of Dutch descent and has been found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name originates from the Netherlands and is composed of two elements, which are either derived from the words ‘thill’ meaning dance or ‘thil’ meaning look and ‘hast’ meaning fast.
As such, when combined the name Thillinghast roughly translates to ‘fast dancer’ or ‘look quickly’. It is thought that this surname originally meant someone who was a fast-moving and timely dancer and could be used to describe someone’s style or mannerisms. Accordingly, the last name Thillinghast may describe someone as having a sense of alertness and quickness of mind and body.
Despite the origin of the name, when it comes to bearing Thillinghast as a surname, there is no definitive answer for how its meaning has been transliterated across cultures. What we do know is that the name remains an enduring testament to an earlier Dutch origin, bearing a connotation of a quick mind and body as well as dance and movement.
Order DNA origin analysisThillinghast: Where does the name Thillinghast come from?
The last name Thillinghast is thought to have originated in Yorkshire, England, although it is not certain. The name may have first come to North America in the mid to late 17th century with the earliest settlers of the Thillinghast name being found in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine. It is believed to have been an English and Welsh variant of the German surname Thieling.
Today, the Thillinghast surname is most common in the United States, with the highest concentrations being found in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Canada also sees a small pocket of Thillinghast families, primarily in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Ontario.
The Thillinghast name is also found across Europe in Germany with smaller pockets in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In Asia, the Thillinghast name is sporadically found in the Philippines, China and India. It is rare in South America and Africa or Oceania.
Despite not being a common surname, the Thillinghast name holds intrigue for many family history and genealogy researchers. It is believed that the Thillinghast family name dates as far as back as the fifth century AD. Although the Thillinghast surname is not particularly common today, those who bear it are proud, knowing they may trace their lineage back to the Medieval era of European history.
Variations of the surname Thillinghast
The surname Thillinghast has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is believed that the origin of the name is either English or perhaps Dutch.
In England, the spelling of the name is usually Thillingshast, Thillingshus or Thillingshusse. In the Netherlands, the spelling is usually Thillinghast, Tilinkhast, Tillinghast, Tillingheest or Tillinghust. In Germany, the spelling is usually Thiollier or Tahlier.
Variants of the surname include Tillingshast, Tillingshus, Tillhous, Tillhause, Tilghast, Tilghase, Tilghus, Tillhast, Tilhause, Tillhous, Tillyhast and Thillingshast.
Surnames of the same origin include Tolhous, Tolhouse, Tollhouse, Tolhot, Tolhaus, Tollshus, Tollhaus, Tolhause, Tillyhaus, Tholhous, Tholhouse, Thollhouse, Tholhot, Tholhaus, Thollshus, Thollhaus, Tholhause, Thillyhaus and Thyllhouse.
The spelling and variants of the surname Thillinghast have changed over time and vary depending on the region of origin. It is important to remember that there is no set spelling of the surname and that there are many different variants and spellings that have evolved over time.
Famous people with the name Thillinghast
- Charles Thillinghast: American entrepreneur and television producer who appeared on Survivor: Philippines in 2012.
- Roger Thillinghast: American lawyer and professor of Law at Columbia Law School, from 1964-1976.
- Katherine Thillinghast: American author, best known for her historical fiction series about the Salem Witch Trials.
- Sgt. Robert Thillinghast: American WWII veteran who earned the Silver Star for his bravery on D-Day.
- Henry Thillinghast: American journalist and editor of The Daily Beast.
- Jill Thillinghast: American painter and sculptor who has exhibited her work in galleries throughout New York City.
- J. William Thillinghast: American judge and politician who served in the Wisconsin Senate from 1851 to 1854.
- Jean Thillinghast: English actress who starred in several films in the 1940s.
- Rebecca Thillinghast: American theologian and professor at Yale Divinity School, focusing on the intersection between religion and literature.
- Harry Thillinghast: American orthopedic surgeon and athlete who competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics, in the hammer throw.