Surname Tyss - Meaning and Origin

Tyss: What does the surname Tyss mean?

There is not an established meaning for the surname Tyss but, as with many surnames, there are a few possible explanations. The first and most likely of these is that it is a topographical name, indicating that the original bearer of the name was someone who either lived on an island (in Old English ‘tīs’ meant ‘island’) or by a deep pool, as ‘tȳs’ meant ‘deep pool’. Another possibility is that Tyss could be an occupational name, derived from the Old French word ‘tiesse’ meaning ‘head, headman or leader’. This meaning may have been extended to refer to persons who gave orders or took a leading role during some kind of social or economic activity.

It is also unlikely that the surname Tyss is of Scandinavian origin, as suggested by some sources, as variants such as Teas, Teis and Teys had become very rare by the 18th century in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In addition, none of these name variants appear to have been taken on by families arriving in England or Ireland in large numbers from Scandinavia.

Finally, it is also possible that the surname Tyss could be derived from one or more nicknames. For instance, in Old French, ‘tīs’, which means ‘gift’, could have been used as a nickname for someone who was generous or who gave freely to others. Alternatively, ‘tiesse’, meaning ‘fortune’, could have been used to refer to someone rich or prosperous.

Tyss: Where does the name Tyss come from?

The last name Tyss is of Danish origin and is a patronymic surname. It was the most common surname in the entire country of Denmark in 2007, and was the fourth most common surname in Norway that same year. Today, it remains one of the most common surnames in Denmark and is also common in Sweden and Norway.

The Tyss surname is also found quite frequently throughout other Scandinavian countries like Finland and Iceland. Outside of the Scandinavian region, Tyss is still found in other parts of Europe like Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

In North America, the Tyss last name is most commonly found in Canada, with the USA not far behind. In the United States, the states with the most Tyss surnames are California, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Texas. The surname has also become common in other parts of the globe, with people bearing the name living in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

It is estimated that in 2019, there were over 20,000 people in the world with the last name Tyss. The Tyss surname is alive and well today, with families bearing the name found in many different countries across the globe.

Variations of the surname Tyss

The surname Tyss is an uncommon European surname which has a number of alternative spellings and variants. In German, Tyss can be written with either one ‘s’ or two – as Tys or Tyss. Additionally, Tyss could be spelled Ties, Teis, Teiss, Teys, Teyss, and Tiss.

The Danish variant of Tyss is Tess, the Dutch variant is Teissen, and the Swedish variant is Thyss. The French variant is De Tyss, while in Spain it is written Teijs, and the Italian variant is Teyss.

It is also possible to find surnames of similar origin and sound to Tyss, such as Tice, Twiss, and De Teyss.

In terms of other surnames of the same origin, Tyss has also been found to be related to variants such as Tuss, Tess, and Tapies. Tuss is a German surname which could be derived from Tyss, and Tess could come from the Danish variant of Tyss. Last but not least, Tapies could also be related, as it is a Basque surname believed to have been derived from the French De Tyss.

Famous people with the name Tyss

• Keala Kennelly: Keala is an American big-wave surfer and a 5-time world champion.
• Devontae Tyss: Devontae is a teenage singer from Virginia who rose to fame after competing in The Voice.
• Rimmel Tyss: Rimmel is an actress, best known for her roles in the films "The Notebook" and "Spiderman".
• John Tyss: John is a classical cellist and chamber music performer.
• Paul Tyss: Paul is an international skateboarder and winner of the Red Bull King of the Air.
• Vivian Tyss: Vivian is an award-winning poet and author, known for her books "Dark Matter" and "Nightmares".
• Michael Tyss Jr.: Michael is a professional basketball player who has won several championships playing for the Boston Celtics.
• Daisy Tyss: Daisy is a country music singer who has released several chart-topping singles.
• Elder Ken Tyss: Ken is a prominent pastor who served as an advisor to President Barack Obama.
• Brett Tyss: Brett is a renowned wildlife photographer who has received numerous awards for his stunning photos.

Other surnames

TysTysonTyssen