Find out how popular the first name Townsend has been for the last 46 years (from 1978 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Townsend by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Townsend is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Townsend being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 23 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name Townsend.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named Townsend in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Townsend

The name Townsend has its origins in Old English, deriving from the words "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "town" and "sund" meaning "a narrow strip of land". It was originally an English place name referring to a settlement located on a strip of land or headland. This geographic name eventually transitioned into a surname and later a given name.

The earliest recorded use of Townsend as a surname dates back to the late 12th century in England. One of the first documented instances was Radulfus de Tunesenda, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1198. Over the centuries, the name took on various spellings such as Towneshend, Townshend, and Townsend.

In terms of historical references, the name Townsend appears in various medieval English records and documents. One notable mention is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the place name "Tunsende" is listed among the lands held by the King in Kent.

The earliest recorded person with the given name Townsend was an English gentleman named Townsend Plantagenet, born in 1470. He was a member of the Plantagenet dynasty and a distant cousin of King Edward IV.

Townsend Goddard (1555-1624) was an English politician and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of King James I. He played a role in the establishment of the first English settlements in North America.

Sir Townsend Whelen (1601-1683) was an English naval officer and admiral who served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership in several naval battles.

Townsend Harris (1804-1878) was an American merchant and diplomat who played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan. He is credited with negotiating the Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1858, which opened up trade between the two nations.

Townsend Brown (1898-1985) was an American inventor and physicist best known for his work on electrogravitics and his theories on the connection between electricity and gravity. He conducted numerous experiments and developed several devices related to his research.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Townsend was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Townsend, please contact us.

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