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

Tarrant, 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 Tarrant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarrant in America

Tarrant is the 7519th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarrant surname appeared 4,425 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Tarrant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarrant 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 Tarrant

The surname Tarrant originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "terrant," meaning a torrent or rapid stream. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a swift-flowing river or stream.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tarrant can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century. One notable reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where a person named William Terrant is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Terrant, Terraunt, and Torrant. These variations likely reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

The name Tarrant is also associated with several place names in England, including Tarrant Crawford, Tarrant Gunville, Tarrant Hinton, Tarrant Keyneston, Tarrant Launceston, Tarrant Monkton, and Tarrant Rushton. These place names derive from the Old English word "terrant" and suggest that the surname may have originated from these locations.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Tarrant was Sir William Tarrant (c. 1350 - c. 1420), an English soldier and landowner from Wiltshire. He served in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his military service.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Tarrant (c. 1520 - 1589), an English politician and landowner from Norfolk. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

In the 17th century, John Tarrant (1633 - 1692) was an English Puritan clergyman and author. He wrote several religious works and was known for his nonconformist views.

During the 18th century, Benjamin Tarrant (1754 - 1832) was an English engraver and publisher. He is best known for his engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

In the 19th century, Ralph Tarrant (1828 - 1902) was an English architect and designer. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

These individuals represent just a few examples of the many people throughout history who have carried the surname Tarrant, reflecting its long-standing presence in England and its association with various professions and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarrant

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

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

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

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