Tarkington

Topographic

Meaning

A settlement or place associated with a person named Tark or related to tark (a dialectal term).

Etymology

Derived from an Old English personal name 'Tarca' or similar, combined with '-ington' (settlement or estate). The '-ington' suffix indicates a place name that became hereditary.

About the Tarkington Surname

A place-name derived surname indicating origin from a settlement in England. The name gained prominence through notable American literary figures.

Distribution & Frequency

Estimated 3,500 bearers in the United States #2,086 most common surname
Rare Common

Primarily found in England and the United States, particularly in Indiana.

Tarkington Surname Distribution

Geographic distribution based on Civil War military records.

Fewer
More

Notable Bearers

People with the Tarkington Surname