Surname Tholkenton - Meaning and Origin

Tholkenton: What does the surname Tholkenton mean?

The last name Tholkenton doesn't appear to have a specific meaning readily available in public records or ancestry resources. It's possible that it may be a variation of a different surname and may have its roots in English, Scandinavian, or Germanic languages, as the "-ton" suffix often suggests a place of origin in those cultures. In many cases, surnames were derived from occupations, patrons, geographical landmarks, or even ancestral names. It may be worthwhile to explore individual family histories for more personalized meanings. The spelling might have been altered over the centuries due to migration or transcription errors. A closer look at ancestral lineage and genealogy resources would provide a more accurate idea. It's always interesting to note that surnames hold a lot of history and can often give us intriguing insights into our ancestors' lives.

Tholkenton: Where does the name Tholkenton come from?

The last name Tholkenton is most commonly found in the United States today. It is most common in the Midwest, but widespread in other states and regions. The earliest known record of this name in the United States was in 1850 when the Tholkenton family immigrated to Wisconsin from Germany. Since then, generations of Tholkentons have lived in America, mostly in Wisconsin and Illinois.

In the 1920s, the census showed that the Tholkenton family had spread eastward and was settling in the Midwest and northeastern states. During the mid-1900s, the Tholkenton family was becoming even more widespread and records show it present in more places down the east coast and in parts of the south.

Today, the Tholkenton name can be found in a variety of states and regions, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Mississippi, and California. The majority of Tholkentons in the United States live in the Midwest, but the name can be found in other parts of the country as well.

Variations of the surname Tholkenton

The surname Tholkenton is derived from the Old English words ‘þolc’ and ‘tun’ meaning ‘farm settlement’ and has several variant spellings such as Tolcantun, Tolkinton and Tulkinton.

It is also known by its Anglicized variations, with its spelling changing to suit the particular phonetic preferences of English pronunciation. These variants are often spelt Tolkeinton, Tolcantun, Tolkinton, Tolkintun, Tolkintonne, Tulkinton, Tulkintun, Tulkintonne, and Tulkature.

Other surnames of the same origin include Tolke, Tholke, Tholkes, Tollke, Tholk, Tholks and Tholkes.

Variations of the same surname are found in other countries, often in the form of Tholken, Tolken, Tollken, Thoke, Tolke and Tholcken in Holland. In Germany, variants often include Tolck, Tolcke, and Tholk.

The surname Tholkenton has been used by a variety of famous figures in history including Thomas Tolkinton, the first mayor of Manchester in 1577, Sir Christopher Tolkenton (ca. 1480-1544), an English soldier or William Tolcanton (d. 1544), Archbishop of York.

The surname has also been used in literature, having been mentioned in “Two Yorkshire Churches: Tolkinton & Findale” by Rev. Canon F.J.C. Blenkinsop, published in 1884.

In summary, the surname Tholkenton can be spelled several different ways and has an array of surnames related to it, many of which can be found scattered throughout the world. It has been used by some famous figures and is documented in literature, firmly entrenching it in history.

Famous people with the name Tholkenton

• John Tholkenton, an American actor best known for his roles in films such as Shallow Grave (1994), The Abyss (1989) and WarGames (1983).
• Bill Tholkenton, an American football player and coach who held several positions including head coach at Southern Illinois University, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Geoffrey Tholkenton, an Australian politician who served as the Member for Border in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2011.
• George Tholkenton, an American painter standout for his exceptional still life artworks depicting flowers and fruits.
• Rose Tholkenton, an American journalist and screenwriter known for her articles in 60 Minutes, which were often criticized for their controversial content.
• Sam Tholkenton, a British actor and voice actor who lent his voice to popular video games such as Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Elite: Dangerous and the Wing Commander series.
• Thomas Tholkenton, a Canadian software engineer who is best known for developing the Star Office suite of office productivity applications for the Solaris operating system.
• Paul Tholkenton, an American politician who was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1965 to 1971.
• Joseph Tholkenton, an English astronomer and painter who is well known for his work on cataloging stars in the southern hemisphere in the early 19th century.
• Rodney Tholkenton, an American entrepreneur and inventor who was an early adopter of robotics and automation technology in manufacturing.

Other surnames

Tholkengton