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

Tarleton, 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 Tarleton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarleton in America

Tarleton is the 17463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarleton surname appeared 1,614 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Tarleton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarleton 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 Tarleton

The surname Tarleton has its roots in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically a location in Lancashire called Tarleton. The name is derived from the Old English words "tor," meaning a tower or rock, and "tun," signifying a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a farmstead situated near a prominent rock formation or tower-like structure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tarleton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Orme de Tarleton, indicating the presence of the name in the region of Lancashire during the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the surname Tarleton appeared in various spellings, such as Tarletun, Tarleton, and Tarlton, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and record-keeping practices of that era. These early records provide insights into the geographical distribution of the name, primarily concentrated in the northwest of England.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Tarleton throughout history include Sir Banastre Tarleton (1754-1833), a British Army officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. Tarleton gained notoriety for his audacious cavalry raids and his involvement in several key battles, including the infamous Waxhaw Massacre in 1780.

Another prominent figure was Colonel John Tarleton (1788-1841), a British Army officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in several campaigns, including the Peninsular War, and was awarded the Army Gold Cross for his bravery at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

In the realm of literature, Gabriel Tarleton (1835-1902) was a renowned English novelist and playwright. His works, such as "The House of Bondage" and "The Strange Adventures of Captain Quinton," explored themes of social injustice and the human condition.

Another notable figure was Mary Tarleton (1907-1995), a pioneering aviator and one of the first women to obtain a commercial pilot's license in the United States. She played a significant role in promoting aviation and advocating for women's rights in the field of aviation.

Lastly, Samuel Tarleton (1685-1753) was an English clergyman and author known for his religious writings, including "A Vindication of the Christian Religion" and "The Reasonableness of Conformity to the Church of England."

These individuals, spanning different eras and professions, exemplify the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those bearing the surname Tarleton throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarleton

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

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 Tarleton 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 Tarleton 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 Tarleton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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