TAFT
It is widely recognised that the surname Taft has roots in the British Isles, with its earliest records situated in England. The name is attested in a variety of spellings—such as Taft, Tift, Toft and Tuft—indicative of its persistence across regions and centuries.
The etymology of Taft is multifaceted. One line of evidence points to an occupational origin: the Old English words tæppa or tæppere translate as “tapster” or “barman,” denoting someone who drew and served ale or beer in an inn. An alternative interpretation, drawing on pre‑7th‑century sources, treats the surname as topographical or locational, derived from the Old Norse word topt meaning a homestead or yard. In medieval England several places named Toft were recorded, the earliest of which appear in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Toft, Taft or Tofte.
Historical documentary evidence illustrates the surname’s longevity. The name is first recorded in the Northamptonshire Pipe Rolls of 1197 under the spelling Elyas del Toft, during the reign of King Richard I. Subsequent accounts include Robert de Taft in the Assize Court rolls of Cambridge in 1340, Henry Tofte christened at St Wenceslas of Westminster in 1585, and Raph Taft who married at St Peters in Nottingham in 1655. A further instance is William Tift, who was christened at St Giles Cripplegate in London in 1674.
In the modern era, the surname attained notable prominence in the United States, particularly through William Howard Taft, who served as the 27th President of the Union from 1909 to 1913 and later as the tenth Chief Justice. William Howard Taft remains unique in having held both offices. The Taft name also stretches into other regions, notably in Mexico, Brazil and various parts of the United Kingdom, reflecting historical migration and settlement patterns.
While the surname is phonetically straightforward, it possesses a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage. Its Old English roots tie it to the craft of serving ale, whereas its Old Norse and Middle English associations link it to rural homesteads and lanes. The continued prevalence of Taft—particularly among those of English descent—attests to the lasting legacy of this ancient appellation within both British and trans‑Atlantic genealogical records.
Typical given names associated with the Taft surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Robert
Female
- Anne
- Christine
- Helen
- Julie
- Karen
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Tefft
- Tafe
- Taff
- Tafti
- Tafft
- Tafts
- Teft
- Tafa
- Daffett
- Daffitt
- Daft
- Dafydd
- Davada
- Davati
- Davd
- Davda
- Davdia
- Daved
- Davet
- Davett
- Daviaud
- David
- Davida
- Davide
- Davidi
- Davied
- Daviet
- Davit
- Davitt
- Davitte
- Davood
- Davoodi
- Davoud
- Davoudi
- Davud
- Davut
- Defaut
- Defede
- Deft
- Devati
- Devaud
- Deved
- Deveto
- Devett
- Devetta
- Devido
- Devit
- Devita
- Devite
- Devito
- Devitt
- Devitte
- Devitto
- Devot
- Devote
- Devotee
- Devoti
- Devoto
- Diavati
- Difato
- Difede
- Divet
- Divett
- Divid
- Divit
- Divita
- Divito
- Divitt
- Divitto
- Doft
- Dopheide
- Dovedi
- Dovet
- Dovidio
- Duffet
- Duffett
- Duffied
- Duffitt
- Duft
- Taif
- Tavadia
- Thaft
- Tifft
- Tift
- Tivot
- Tofft
- Toft
- Tofte
- Tovet
- Tovett
- Tuffett
- Tufft
- Tuft
- Tvedt
- Tveit
- Tveita
- Tvitt
- Tafat
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Taft in...
Braille
⠞⠁⠋⠞
Morse
-.-..-.-
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,211 people named Taft in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,386th most common surname in Britain. Around 19 in a million people in Britain are named Taft.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Taft
- William Howard Taft - American politician, 27th President of the United States (1857 to 1930)
- George Taft - Football player
- Doug Taft - Football player (1926 to 1987)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.