Find out how popular the last name Tanton is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Tanton.

Tanton, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Tanton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanton in America

Tanton is the 27376th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanton surname appeared 882 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tanton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tanton to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Tanton

The surname Tanton is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, England, where it was derived from the Old English words "tun" and "tun," meaning a farmstead or enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tanton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Tantone and Taunton, suggesting its connection to the town of Taunton, Somerset.

Throughout the centuries, the Tanton surname has been associated with several notable individuals. In the 16th century, Sir John Tanton (1531-1594) was a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another distinguished individual bearing the Tanton name was Robert Tanton (1642-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Therfield in Hertfordshire. He is best known for his work "Theologicum Theoriæ Sacræ" (1701), a comprehensive treatise on theology.

During the 18th century, the Tanton family established roots in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. One notable figure from this period was William Tanton (1719-1789), a successful merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of his local community in Warwickshire.

In the 19th century, the Tanton surname gained prominence in the field of literature. John Tanton (1805-1878) was an English author and poet who published several works, including "Poems and Songs" (1842) and "The Village Green" (1856).

Moreover, the Tanton name has been associated with various place names and geographical locations throughout England. For example, the village of Tanton in Wiltshire, as well as the hamlet of Tanton Green in Staffordshire, both likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Tanton surname who once resided or held lands in those areas.

Overall, the surname Tanton has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in the county of Somerset. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions across various fields, from politics and religion to literature and commerce, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanton

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Tanton.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tanton was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Tanton has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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