The Titmuss surname is thought to derive from the name of an English bird called a titmose or tit-mouse; as such, the name was likely originally a
nickname for someone thought to resemble this bird.
Early Origins of the Titmuss family
The surname Titmuss was first found in
Lancashire where they held a
family seat on the English/Scottish border. After the
Norman Conquest of
England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The border became a convenient no-man's land. Notable families such as the Percy, the Umfravilles and the Nevilles gathered many supporting clans around them. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. In that century, many of those clans drove their herds south, and they settled in
Yorkshire and
Lancashire. The name was first recorded in Kirkham.
Early History of the Titmuss family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Titmuss research.
Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1651, and 1662 are included under the topic Early Titmuss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Titmuss Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Titmas, Titmus, Titmuss, Tytemose, Titmouse and many more.
Early Notables of the Titmuss family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Titmuss Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Titmuss family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Francis Titmouse, who came to Maryland in 1756; William Titmus, a convict sent to Virginia in 1765; and Simeon Titmouse, who arrived in Canada in 1832..
Contemporary Notables of the name Titmuss (post 1700)
- Abigail Evelyn "Abi" Titmuss (b. 1976), English actress, television personality, poker player, and former glamour model
- Fred Titmuss (1898-1966), English footballer
- Abigail Titmuss (b. 1976), English TV presenter and model
- Richard Titmuss (1907-1973), British academic
- Christopher Titmuss (b. 1944), former Theravada Buddhist monk and author