Show ContentsTarbitch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Tarbitch reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Tarbitch family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Tarbitch is based on the ancient Norman given name Terbert.

Early Origins of the Tarbitch family

The surname Tarbitch was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very ancient times at Tarbock, after the Norman Conquest in 1066. They were descended from the Baron Richard, brother of Sir Robert Fitzhenry, founder of Burscough Priory. " Henry de Tarbock or Torbock, who was early the lord of Tarbock, Roby, Huyton, Knowsley, and other manors, had two sons. The elder of these, Robert, was sometimes distinguished by the Norman patronymic FitzHenry, which the English rendered Harrison, and sometimes was denominated from his principal residence, de Lathom; while Richard, the other son, inheriting Tarbock, designated himself from that estate." 1

Early History of the Tarbitch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tarbitch research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1606 is included under the topic Early Tarbitch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tarbitch Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Tarbitch are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Tarbitch include Tarbock, Tarbocks, Tarbox, Tirebuck, Torbock, Tarbuck, Tarbux and many more.

Early Notables of the Tarbitch family

More information is included under the topic Early Tarbitch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tarbitch family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Tarbitch, or a variant listed above: Mary Tarbuck settled in Maryland in 1745; Richard Tarbutt settled in Virginia in 1663; John Tarbux settled in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1631.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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