Surname Til - Meaning and Origin
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Til: What does the surname Til mean?
The last name Til is a common surname in Germany, Netherlands, and throughout Europe. The origin of this surname is uncertain as it appears in several regions and can derive from several languages.
In Germany, Til can be derived from the name Till, which is a short form of Matilda, or an abbreviation of names such as Dietlieb or Dietger. It can also be derived from a place name, such as Thill, which is an old word for a meadow.
In Dutch, ‘Till’ is an abbreviation of Dirk, which is the equivalent of Theodoric, while in another dialect of Dutch, Til is short for the German name Ludwig.
In Norse, another possible origin of Til is Thorljolf, which was a name derived from Old Norse meaning ‘One who loves Thor’, referencing the god Thor.
In medieval records, Til is sometimes used as a prefix to denote a servant or farmhand, or to identify someone as a ‘son of Thorljolf’.
There is very little information on the original form of the name and its two possible sources. However, the name Til has an old tradition of being used as a first name and a family name, and today is still widely used in many countries in Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisTil: Where does the name Til come from?
The surname Til is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It is also present in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Russia. It is rare in the United States, but some people with the last name can be found in Florida, New York, Ohio, and Michigan.
The surname Til likely originated with Middle Dutch for “tillen,” meaning “to lift or raise.” Thus, it is thought to be associated with an occupation or nickname—a person who was particularly strong or capable of lifting heavy objects.
The most common Norwegian variant of the name is Till, and it is considered a variation of Til. Other variations include Tilmann, Tillmanns, and Thillmann. There is also an English variant of the name that is derived from the Old English for “to dig”—Till. It was given to people who worked as laborers or unskilled workers in the mining industry.
The surname Til is not widely used in the United States, but can still be found in areas with large populations of Scandinavian immigrants. It is most common in the Midwest, specifically Minnesota and North Dakota, two states with well-established Scandinavian communities.
Variations of the surname Til
The surname Til is generally considered to be of Norman origin, and is derived from the early French name Thibaut, which itself derives from the ancient Germanic name Theodebert. The spelling Til is the most common modern variant of this surname.
Other variants of the same origin include Teal, Teil, Teale, Teyal, Thil, Teill, Teyl, Tealie and Teillie.
It is worth noting that due to varying levels of literacy among many immigrants to the United States and other English-speaking countries, many of these variants can also be spelt differently depending on the individual’s capabilities and country or region of origin.
The alternate surnames derived from the same root as Til include Thibault, Thibaut, Thibauld, Theobald, Tybalt and Teobald.
With regards to its meaning, Til can refer to a variety of things, depending on the region it originated from. In French, it is a common surname which means “people”, or it can be used as a nickname for someone who is courageous, like the English adjective “till”. In Old German, Til has a more negative connotation, as it means “bad ruler”.
Overall, the surname Til and its variants have been found in many countries around the world, and can trace its roots back to the ancient Germanic language. Although variations of spelling exist, all forms of the surname ultimately refer back to the same origin and can be seen to have the same meaning.
Famous people with the name Til
- Mabel Til: Mabel Til was born in Alabama in 1917 and worked as a seamstress until she moved to Hollywood and became a stunt double in the 1950s. She’s recognized as the first African-American stuntwoman in Hollywood.
- Margot Til: Margot Til is a Danish singer-songwriter, living in Sweden, who has released five albums and been nominated for several awards.
- Rainer Til: Rainer Til is an actor from Finland who is known for his work on the Long Dark Night and 404.
- Joan Tils- Joan Tils is a popular Finnish actor who is most renowned for portraying the role of Aslak in the TV show Hotel Bäckström.
- Esther Tils: Esther Tils is a Swedish racing driver who won three Norwegian Touring Car Championship races in 2019.
- Kelly Tilghman: Kelly Tilghman is an American golf broadcaster and former golfer known for her work on PGA Tour manual.
- Kalevi Tils: Kalevi Tils is a Finnish academic and historian who wrote several books on the history of Finland and Finno-Ugric Peoples.
- Henrich Tils: Henrich Tils is a German football player who has made six appearances for SV Elversberg.
- Louis Tils: Louis Tils is a professional tennis player from France who was ranked in the top 100 in 2009.
- Henk Til: Henk Til is a Dutch politician who was a Member of the House of Representatives from 1994 to 1998.