Surname Tingle - Meaning and Origin

Tingle: What does the surname Tingle mean?

The surname Tingle is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational name derived from either of two places in Systemshire, England called Tingle and Tingley. The original place names were derived from an Old English term, either ‘tingel’ meaning ‘meadow’ or ‘tyn-gal’ meaning ‘the narrow valley’. The surname was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from very early times.

The name Tingle is probably an occupational name as well, derived from the word ‘tingle’, which means ‘to work in tin or lead’ or ‘to put together sugar and eggs for cooking’. It could also have sometimes been used as a nickname since it implied a person who worked in or around either metal or food.

Those with the surname Tingle might have been wealthy landowners since the meaning of the name implied the ownership of a lead mine or sugar mill. Later on, the surname became associated with the manufacture of tin and lead products such as dishes, cutlery, boxes, etc.

Tingle is a very old surname with many variations. Today, there are many people in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries who have the surname Tingle. They all share a common ancestor from centuries ago. The surname, however, still holds certain implications of wealth and might mean different things to different people depending on how far back their family goes.

Tingle: Where does the name Tingle come from?

The last name Tingle is most commonly found in the Southern United States. It has its roots in the Old English word "tyngel," referring to someone who tingles or gives a pleasant sensation when touched.

The states with the highest concentrations of people with the name Tingle are Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida. There is also a scattering of Tingle families in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Beyond the US, the name Tingle is found in Yorkshire, England.

In the US, the name Tingle has a long history dating back to colonial times, when the name first appears in records, mostly concentrated in the Virginia and Carolina colonies. For much of the 18th and 19th centuries, the majority of Tingles were agrarian farmers who tilled the highlands and coastal plains of the Southern states. Southern hospitality is actively practiced by the Tingle family, and many branches proudly hold reunions each year to maintain the community's old world ties.

The Tingle name also lives on in literature and film. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a character with the last name Tingle in his famous novel, "The Great Gatsby". Even today, many Tingles are entangled in family feuds documented in movies and on television.

Since the Southern states of the US have an especially strong concentration of Tingles, it can be assumed that the last name still has a presence there largely unchanged from its origins in the colonial era.

Variations of the surname Tingle

The surname Tingle has several different spelling variants and related surnames of the same origin. These variants and related surnames include Tingley, Tinglea, Tingel, Tinglee, Tingleo, Tingles, Tingley, Tingle, Tangley and Tangel.

The surname Tingle is of English origin and is derived from the Middle English word "tingle" meaning "a narrow riband or strip of cloth". The Tingle surname was commonly found in the southern England region of Kent and Sussex, where they are believed to have resided since at least the 13th century.

In North America, the Tingle surname can be found as early as 1600, in the Virginia Colony. The reason for the multiple spellings of this surname is a result of its transcription from spoken accents. North American settlers often encountered difficulty when attempting to spell unfamiliar words and thus the surname was adapted to the way it was heard as spoken.

In addition, some people of English and Irish ancestry have adopted the Tingle surname from the surnames Tangley or Tinling. Tangley is an English topographic name derived from the Old English word "tangel", which means "piece of land by a river". Tinling or Tinlinges is an Anglo-Saxon name which is believed to have originated in Lincolnshire and is derived from the Old English word "t(h)ynling", which means "small or narrow ribbon or strip of cloth".

Famous people with the name Tingle

• Mark Tingle: American actor, known for his roles in films such as Hot Fuzz, The Wolfman (2010), and Thor: The Dark World.
• Steven Tingle: American actor, appearing in shows such as Masters of Sex and Parks and Recreation.
• David Tingle: Former Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013.
• Mike Tingle: Chief executive officer of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
• Dan Tingle: British singer-songwriter, creator of bands such as Dan Tingle and Flyte.
• Joanna Tingle: British artist and founder of the Freerange art collective.
• Ryan Tingle: American multiple Emmy Award-winning post-production sound mixer for television and film.
• Jack Tingle: American former professional baseball player in the National League from 1929 to 1933.
• Charlotte Tingle: Former U.S. State Department official, diplomat, and senior fellow in New America's International Security Program.
• David Tingle: American professional ice hockey player who played one season with the Minnesota Wild in 2003–2004.

Other surnames

TinglegrastTingleyTingly