Surname Talbot - Meaning and Origin

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G. Talbot

Talbot: What does the surname Talbot mean?

The surname Talbot originates from both French and English culture, dating back to the medieval period. The name Talbot primarily signifies a "messenger" or "carrier," particularly of news or important information. It's derived from the Old French term "Talebot," which was a nickname for a trusted servant who carried messages between his lord and others. The term was eventually adapted into the Old English language as "Talbott" and finally modified to its current form "Talbot." In addition to this, Talbot is also linked to hunting, as it was used to refer to a breed of hunting hound. Thus, the surname also denotes someone who is as faithful or as swift as a hunting dog. Over centuries, the surname has spread across several countries, with variations occurring due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings.

Talbot: Where does the name Talbot come from?

The last name Talbot is most common in the United Kingdom. In the 2019 UK Census, over 58,000 people in England and Wales were found to bear the surname Talbot, making it the 136th most common surname in England and Wales. The areas of highest concentration were in the Midlands, particularly Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, where it is the fourth, fifth and sixth most popular surname, respectively.

Outside of England, Talbot is most common in Scotland, with over 5,000 residents bearing the surname according to the 2018/19 Scottish Census. It is the 61st most popular surname in Scotland and is most prevalent in the Glasgow area, as well as the historic county of Strathclyde.

In the United States, Talbot is the 935th most common name, with 3,786 citizens bearing this surname according to the most recent American census. The name is most prevalent in Arizona, home to 0.006% of all Talbots. It is also popular in Mississippi and Kentucky – both of which host over 0.004% of those named Talbot.

Given its origins, Talbot can also be found in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Variations of the surname Talbot

The surname Talbot is a noble name of English origin that can be found in various countries throughout the world. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the Talbot surname include Tallbott, Talebot, Talbott, Talbut, Talbott, Talbutt, Talbotson, Talbottson, and Tailbott.

The various spellings for the surname can be attributed to the imperfect spelling of the English language during the period in which surnames were first adopted. In fact, the surname and all of its variants can be traced to the Old French word "talbout", meaning messenger.

In some cases, the variant spelling of the surname could have been altered by grammarians or local schools. For instance, "Tallbott" was likely a surname used by grammarians or scribes that used the Latin word "tallbout" instead of the Old French "talbout" when writing the surname.

The surnames of the same origin can be derived from the Talbot name. These include "Tallett," "Tallman," "Talman," "Talons," "Tallon," "Tallman," and even "Talonor." These surnames may indicate that the bearer is a descendant from the original Talbot family, which is a common trait for many English surnames.

The Talbot family is well documented and can be traced back to a family of French Norman origin. While the surname was initially taken on by some enigmatic French knights, the Talbot name eventually spread throughout the British Isles, eventually becoming an important surname in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Overall, the Talbot surname is a noble and ancient name that has been passed down through many generations of British families. Its various spellings and surnames of the same origin showcase the long and admirable history of the Talbot heritage.

Famous people with the name Talbot

• Bruce Talbot, an American former professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks.
• Jerod Talbot, a former professional American football running back who played in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
• David Talbot, the founder of Salon.com and the author of several books.
• Chip Talbot, an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist for the punk band The Lawrence Arms.
• Jean Talbot, a former tennis player from Canada. She was the runner-up at the 1935 French Championships and a three-time British Covered Court Championships singles runner-up.
• Garry Talbot, a former Gaelic football midfielder and forward from Northern Ireland who played club football for Omagh St Enda's and the Fermanagh county team.
• Snowden Talbot, an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s.
• Colin Talbot, a British political scientist specializing in public policy analysis, legislation and bureaucracy.
• Robert Talbot, an American chemist and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Barry Talbot, a British crime fiction author who has written several books in the Detective Chief Inspector Peter McGarr series.

Other surnames

Talbott