Surname Tarkenton - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tarkenton: What does the surname Tarkenton mean?
The surname Tarkenton is of Swedish origin, possibly derived from a geographical location in Sweden. However, its specific meaning is unclear because it does not correspond directly to any known Swedish words or phrases. Tarkenton is not a common surname even in Sweden. The most famous person with this name is probably Fran Tarkenton, a former National Football League (NFL) quarterback from the United States. His ancestors emigrated from Sweden to the US. Like many surnames, its meaning may have been lost to history or altered over the generations. The specific etymology of Tarkenton has been lost over time and cannot be found in traditional last name dictionaries. It's important to note that meanings of surnames can evolve over centuries, shaped by shifts in language, culture, and migration.
Order DNA origin analysisTarkenton: Where does the name Tarkenton come from?
The last name Tarkenton is most commonly found today in the United States. It can be found in at least 26 states, and in the top ten highest concentrations of the last name Tarkenton are: 1) Mississippi, 2) Georgia, 3) Arkansas, 4) South Carolina, 5) Texas, 6) Tennessee, 7) Louisiana, 8) Alabama, 9) Virginia, and 10) Illinois.
The largest concentrations, however, are in the following states: Mississippi, Arkansas, and Georgia. The Tarkentons can be traced to a small corner of southwestern Georgia near Macon and Atlanta. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the largest numbers of Tarkenton families can be found in Houston, TX (3,095), followed by Birmingham, AL (2,358), Memphis, TN (1,977), Dallas, TX (1,909), and Atlanta, GA (1,604).
The last name Tarkenton is actually quite rare, at least in the United States. The Social Security death index, which maintains records for deaths since 1937 from the Social Security Administration, suggests that only 0.15 percent of the population of the United States had this last name as of 2010 (although this data does not take into account those using variations of the surname, such as "Tarkington" or "Tarthan," which could increase the numbers slightly).
The Tarkenton family has a rich history in the United States, stretching back to a small corner of southwestern Georgia near Macon and Atlanta. It's an interesting family, and one with a long heritage in the states.
Variations of the surname Tarkenton
The surname Tarkenton is a variation of the surname Tarkington, which can be further shortened to Tarking. This surname originates from England, originally from the Old Norse first name Thorketill, composed of the elements "thor" (thunder) and "ketill" (kettle). Although the original spelling was Tarkington, the spelling has been modified through the years and is now found in many different forms, such as:
Tarkenton can also be found spelled as Torkington, Thorrington, Tarkinten, Tarkan, Torquenton, Thorquon, Torquen, Torquinton, Torquen, Tarquent, Tarquinto, Turkinton, Turquen, Turquen, or Torken. Sometimes the spelling of the surname also includes a second “e” or “a” in the middle, such as: Tarquenee, Tarquenae, Turquent, or Turkenee.
Additionally, there are several variants associated with the Tarkenton surname which originate from the same Thorketill first name. Variants such as Thorkildsen, Thurkick, Thorkleson, Thorkild, Torkle, Torkildson, or Thorkildsen can be found in Norway, Denmark, and parts of Sweden.
Thus, the surname Tarkenton has many different spellings and variants that can be traced back to its English origin.
Famous people with the name Tarkenton
- Fran Tarkenton: An NFL player in the 1960s and 1970s, Fran Tarkenton is a former Football Hall of Famer and three-time Pro Bowl selection. He played for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, and holds multiple records in the league.
- Mary Tarkenton: The daughter of Fran Tarkenton, Mary Tarkenton is a successful entrepreneur and coach who has worked with entrepreneurs and business leaders all over the world.
- Mike Tarkenton: The son of Fran, Mike Served in Desert Storm and has become a successful business executive. He has held multiple executive positions in the healthcare technologies industry.
- Anthony Tarkenton: Anthony is the brother of Mike, and a former running back with the Atlanta Falcons. He also has a successful career in business and finance.
- Kelly Tarkenton: Kelly is the daughter of Fran, and a successful businesswoman and salon owner. She also holds the position of President of her father's charity, the Fran Tarkenton Foundation.
- Eddie Tarkenton: Eddie is the brother of Fran and another successful businessman. He is the CEO of two media production companies in the Atlanta area.
- Miles Tarkenton: Miles is the son of Fran and a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is currently a partner at a venture capital firm in California.
- Lauren Tarkenton: The daughter of Mike, Lauren has a successful career in the fashion industry and is a sales executive for a clothing retail brand.