Show ContentsTallmadge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The earliest origins of the family name Tallmadge date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a person who habitually wore a knapsack or other type of pack carried on the back. The surname Tallmadge is derived from the Old French word talemache, which means knapsack. Nickname surnames often referred to the bearer's favored style of clothing.

Alternatively, this Norman name could have literally meant "totting of the bell." 1

Early Origins of the Tallmadge family

The surname Tallmadge was first found in Suffolk where, according to Doctor Bosworth, they were amongst the first Angles that settled in Suffolk. On their manor house at Bentley, near Ipswich there was the following inscription "Before the Normans into England came, Bentley was my seat, and Tollemache was my name." 2 3

Early History of the Tallmadge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tallmadge research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1611, 1624, 1651, 1669, 1694 and 1821 are included under the topic Early Tallmadge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tallmadge Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Tallmadge include Talmach, Talmage, Talmash, Tammadge, Tammage, Tallemach, Tollemache, Tolmage and many more.

Early Notables of the Tallmadge family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Lionel Tollemache (1624-1669), 3rd Baronet of Helmingham was the head of a powerful East Anglian family whose seat was...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tallmadge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Tallmadge migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Tallmadge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Tallmadge, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1631 4
Tallmadge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • D P Tallmadge, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Tallmadge (post 1700) +

  • Nathaniel Pitcher Tallmadge (1795-1864), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Senate 2nd District, 1830-33; U.S. Senator from New York, 1833-44; Governor of Wisconsin Territory, 1844-45 5
  • Matthias B. Tallmadge, American politician, Member of New York State Senate Western District, 1802-05 5
  • John J. Tallmadge (1818-1873), American Democratic Party politician, Merchant; Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1865-66; Candidate for Governor of Wisconsin, 1867 5
  • Joel Tallmadge Jr., American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Tioga County, 1832 5
  • James Tallmadge Jr. (1778-1853), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York state Assembly from Dutchess County, 1824 5
  • James Tallmadge, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Dutchess County, 1784-85, 1790-92 5
  • Isaac S. Tallmadge, American politician, Member of Wisconsin State Assembly, 1853-54 5
  • Frederick Augustus Tallmadge (1792-1869), American politician, Representative from New York 5th District, 1847-49 5
  • Daniel W. Tallmadge (1842-1894), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1879-80, 1888 5
  • D. P. Tallmadge, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 18th District, 1854-55 5
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Tallmadge Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Confido conquiesco
Motto Translation: I trust and am contented.


  1. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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