Contents [hide]

Turpin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Turpin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Turpin reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Turpin family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Turpin family lived in Dorset. Their name, however, is a reference to Turpin Au Bois, Normandy, 1 the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the French name Turpinus, a derivative of the Latin 'turpis,' meaning 'disgraceful,' a name adopted by the early Christians as a token of humility. 2

Early Origins of the Turpin family

The surname Turpin was first found in Dorset but was quickly found in Yorkshire shortly after the Norman Conquest. One of the first records of the name was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Torfin or Turfin. 3

Turfinus filius Torfini was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1130 as was Torphinus in the same rolls in 1196. A few years later, Gaufridus filius Thorphini was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1204. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list John Turpin in Oxfordshire. 4 Whitchester in Northumberland was home to a branch of the family. "This place was for ages the possession of the Turpin family." 5

Richard "Dick" Turpin (1705-1739), the infamous English highwayman who was executed on 22 March 1739 for his deeds was inspiration for many English ballads, theatre and films hailed from Hempstead, Essex. Ironically, Turpin was never convicted of being a highwayman or a murderer. He was convicted of being a horse-rustler and that led to his execution.

Early History of the Turpin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Turpin research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1619 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Turpin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turpin Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Turpin family name include Turpine, Torpin, Turpin, Turbin, Turping, Tirping, Tirpin, Terpin, Turpen and many more.

Early Notables of the Turpin family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir George Turpin

Turpin World Ranking

In the United States, the name Turpin is the 2,597^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 6 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Turpin is ranked the 577^th most popular surname with an estimated 79 people with that name. 7 And in France, the name Turpin is the 462^nd popular surname with an estimated 9,469 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Turpin family to Ireland

Some of the Turpin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turpin migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Turpin family to immigrate North America:

Turpin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hugh Turpin, who landed in Virginia in 1663 9
James Turpin, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 9

Turpin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Turpin, who settled in New England in 1750
Richard Turpin, who landed in America in 1783 9

Turpin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Turpin, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 9
John Turpin settled at St. Lawrence in 1871

Turpin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Turpin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Sarah Turpin, who settled in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland in 1780 10

Turpin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Turpin was scalped by Red Indians at Sandy Cove, now Tilton, Newfoundland in 1809 10
Mr. William Turpin, (b. 1835), aged 20, Cornish labourer departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 11

Turpin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Turpin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Turpin, (b. 1791), aged 30, English waterman who was convicted in Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. William Turpin, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Adam Turpin, English convict from Cambridge, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Robert Turpin, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 15
Mr. Robert Turpin, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Turpin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Turpin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Turpin, aged 36, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 17
Ann Turpin, aged 34, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 17
J. Turpin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Crownthorpe" in 1876
Elizabeth Turpin, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Queen" in 1883 18

Turpin migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19

Turpin Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Turpin who settled in Barbados in 1635
Mr. John Turpin, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 20
Henry Turpin, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his son and servants

Contemporary Notables of the name Turpin (post 1700) +

Thomas Million John Turpin (1871-1922), American ragtime composer
Melvin Harrison "Mel" Turpin (1960-2010), American professional basketball player
Bernard "Ben" Turpin (1869-1940), American cross-eyed silent film comedian and actor
James Clifford Turpin (1886-1966), American pioneer aviator for the Wright Brothers
Will Turpin, American singer/musician
William Turpin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1956 21
White Turpin, American politician, Member of Mississippi territorial House of Representatives, 1809 21
Thomas J. Turpin, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Wicomico County, 1878 21
Louis Washington Turpin (1849-1903), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Alabama, 1889-95 21
James Turpin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 2008 21
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Turpin family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Richard Turpin, Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland (1914) 22

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Thomas Keith Turpin, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23
Mrs. Maud Adelaide Otway Turpin, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23

RMS Titanic

Mr. William John Robert Turpin (d. 1912), aged 29, English Second Class passenger from Plymouth, Devon who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
Mrs. Dorothy Ann Turpin (d. 1912), (née Wonnacott), aged 27, English Second Class passenger from Plymouth, Devon who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html