Surname Totten - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling History through DNA: My Ancestral Journey with Totten Surname at iGENEA
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery with iGENEA DNA test results, I traced the roots of my family name, Totten, back to Viking lineage. The vibrant narrative held within my genetic markers led me to the astounding realization of my mixed heritage, deeply rooted in Scandinavia and the British Isles.
U. Totten
read moreTotten: What does the surname Totten mean?
The last name Totten is of English and Welsh origin. The surname is derived from the Middle English word tatten, which has one of two possible meanings. It could mean "one who lives by a pond," in which case the name would have been given to someone who lived near a body of water, such as a lake or pond. Alternatively, it could mean "tattooer," which would indicate that such an individual had a trade.
Totten can also be an anglicized form of the Welsh surnames Todwyn and Tooten. These Welsh names are derived from middle Welsh terms meaning "twins," referring to a family that had twin children.
Whatever the true origin of the last name Totten, it can still be traced back to the Middle Ages. At that time, surnames were used to distinguish people with similar given names. Over time, each family's surname would become more deeply ingrained in their identity.
Today, many people who bear the last name Totten are proud of their ancestry. The surname has endured for centuries, suggesting that the people within the Totten family have been able to stand the test of time.
Order DNA origin analysisTotten: Where does the name Totten come from?
The surname Totten is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. In 2016, the surname was ranked at 5,480 in terms of frequency, making it one of the more common surnames in the country. According to the United States census in 2008, approximately 2,797 Americans had the surname Totten and it was most popularly found in Pennsylvania.
In Scotland, the surname originated in the Borders region from the Old English word ‘tote’ which means ‘stranger’ and the focus of the name is said to come from Forfarshire. It has also become popular in the Irish counties of Cork and Antrim; however, it is thought that these were formed through Scottish emigration and the usage of the name by settlers.
The majority of spellings of the surname are said to be Totten, while the other two most common variations are Totting and Tottenham. In England, the most popular spelling of the surname is seen in Totten, however, it is also seen in Totting in some cases.
Additionally, other variants of the name such as Tottingham and Touten have been spotted in parts of the United States. This variation originated from Wiltshire England, and therefore, has been spread over to the United States with those who have immigrated in the past.
Variations of the surname Totten
The surname Totten is an English surname with German origins. Variations of the name include Toten, Totten, Toden, and Tottingham. In some cases, the surname has been altered over time with its spelling or pronunciation. Variations include Totin, Totton, Tottingham, and Todyn.
The family of Tottens originated from the Töttingen, a region in Germany now known as the city of Tübingen. The family, likely of German descent, moved to England in the 1700s and 1800s.
Today, the Tottens are spread out across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the name is most prevalent in Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and Ohio, while it is most common in England, Wales, and Scotland in the United Kingdom.
The English form of the name is Totten, and this spelling is most commonly seen in North America. Other variants of the name, such as Toten, Totten, Toden, and Tottingham, are most common in England, Wales, Scotland, and the United Kingdom.
In some cases, the name has been changed entirely with the spelling or pronunciation being altered.Variants of the name, such as Todyn, Totin, and Totton, are less frequent, and primarily found in North America.
It is clear that over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the name has changed. This has resulted in multiple spellings and surnames which all retain the same origin of the Tottens of Tübingen.
Famous people with the name Totten
- Marcus Totten: American singer-songwriter best known for his 1990s album, "Don't Look Back".
- Bobby Totten: American college football player and coach for the New Mexico State Aggies.
- Harvey Totten: an American politician who served as mayor of Bismarck, North Dakota from 1897 to 1902.
- Howard Totten: civil engineer who helped design the first major American subway system in Boston.
- William Totten: American planter and Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia who served in the Continental Army during the Battle of Yorktown.
- Emma M. Totten: American industrialist and philanthropist who established the Totten Trust which donates to numerous charities in and around the Toledo, Ohio area.
- David Totten: American novelist, journalist and screenwriter who wrote the novel Who Killed Mr. Stranger?
- John Totten: American yacht designer whose work on the America's Cup-winning Reliance (1899–1903) established him as one of the most accomplished yacht designers in history.
- Julie Totten: Canadian actress and former talk show host who was a regular on the popular Canadian comedy show Royal Canadian Air Farce.
- Peter Totten: American composer, musician, and audio engineer from Los Angeles best known for composing music for feature films such as Congorama (2006), American Gangster (2007) and Starship Troopers (1997).