Tarver

Origin and Meaning

Tarver is a British surname of occupational origin. It is derived from the Old French word tarveau, which means a young bullock or a three-year-old ox. This suggests that the surname was likely originally given to someone who worked with or looked after cattle.

Distribution and Popularity

The surname Tarver is most commonly found in England, particularly in the regions of East Anglia and the East Midlands. It is a relatively rare surname, with only a small number of individuals bearing it compared to more common surnames in the United Kingdom.

Notable Individuals

  • Tom Tarver (1901–1975): English cricketer who played for Surrey and professionally in the Lancashire leagues.

  • Maria Tarver (b. 1985): British artist known for her intricate paper-cut artworks inspired by nature and folklore.

Variants and Derivations

Variants of the surname Tarver include Tarfur, Tarber, and Tarvar. Over time, the spelling of the name has evolved due to regional dialects and changes in pronunciation.

There are approximately 271 people named Tarver in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Tarver.

Surname type: Occupational name

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Andrew
  • Brian
  • Charles
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Philip
  • Richard
  • Robin

Female

  • Alice
  • Claire
  • Elaine
  • Gail
  • Hannah
  • Helen
  • Jean
  • Louise
  • Mary
  • Patricia
  • Samantha
  • Sophie
  • Susan
  • Wendy

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.