Last Name Ta

The surname "Ta" has origins that can be traced back to several different cultures and regions. 1. Chinese: In Mandarin Chinese, "Ta" (太) is a character that means 'great' or 'supreme'. It is often used as a surname in China, particularly among people who live in the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, and Hunan. 2. Vietnamese: In Vietnamese, "Ta" can be a shortened form of the name "Nguyễn Tà" or "Trần Tà". These names were derived from the Chinese surname Li (李), which was brought to Vietnam during the Chinese occupation. 3. Basque: In the Basque region of Spain and France, "Ta" is a rare surname that has no clear etymology. It may be a variant of other Basque surnames or could have been influenced by nearby cultures. 4. African (Somalia): Ta can also be found as a clan name among the Darod pastoralist group in Somalia, where it is associated with the Taaroow subclan of the Hawiye. However, the exact origin and meaning of this use of "Ta" are unclear, and it likely predates written records.

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The meaning and origin of the last name Ta

The surname Ta has its origins from various ethnic groups worldwide, making it challenging to pinpoint a single origin. One notable occurrence is among the Celtic tribes in ancient Britain, where "Ta" or "Tavis" is derived from the old Celtic word "tawis," meaning a smith or craftsman. In China, Ta (谈) is one of the Chinese characters for the word "talk" or "discuss," and it has been used as a surname. The Ta clan was one of the earliest Baiyi tribes, which were among the first peoples to migrate south during the Xia Dynasty. In Japan, "Ta" (田) is a common Japanese surname, representing the kanji character for field or rice paddy. Additionally, the surname Ta can be found among the Gaels of Ireland, where it is often anglicized as Taylor, and in African cultures as well, particularly among the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Geographical distribution of the last name Ta

The surname Ta is predominantly found in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in China, where it is a common family name in various provinces such as Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Henan. It is also widely used in Vietnam, where it is spelled as 'Trần' or 'Lê Trần'. In Indonesia, the surname Ta can be found among the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, who have strong cultural ties to Western Malaysia. Smaller populations bearing the name Ta are also present in Korea and Japan. The distribution of this surname reflects historical migration patterns, cultural exchanges, and linguistic similarities across these regions.

Variants and spellings of the last name Ta

The surname "Ta" has multiple variations and spellings across different cultures. In English, it can be found as Taylor, Tate, or Tatum, among others. These English variants are derived from Old French and Norman given names, such as Talbot or Tatarian.

In Vietnamese, the last name "Ta" is a common surname pronounced as [tɑː]. However, in Chinese contexts, "Ta" may be spelled as "Dá" (达) or "Tǎ" (塔), reflecting Cantonese and Mandarin pronunciations respectively. These Chinese versions are not related to the Vietnamese "Ta."

In some African cultures, Ta may appear as Taa, Tha, or T'a, among others. For example, in Swahili, Ta translates to "father" and can be a component of personal names, such as Mtata (meaning "my father"). In the Dogon language spoken in Mali, Ta is pronounced [taː] and represents a family or lineage name.

In summary, the surname Ta has numerous variations and spellings across different cultures and languages, including English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Swahili, and African languages like Dogon.

Famous people with the last name Ta

The Ta surname is notable for its association with several distinguished individuals across various fields. One prominent figure is Ta-Nehisi Coates, an American author and journalist who has gained acclaim for his works on race, culture, and history, including the National Book Award-winning "Between the World and Me." In the world of sports, Jeremy Lin, born Wei Lin, is a renowned basketball player known for his inspiring rise to fame with the New York Knicks. The Ta family in Vietnam has played significant roles in politics and business, with Tran Dai Quang serving as the President of Vietnam from 2016 until his death in 2018. Lastly, Yao Ta-kuan was a prominent Taiwanese political figure who served as the vice president under Lee Teng-hui during the transition of power from Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang to the Democratic Progressive Party in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Genealogical research on the last name Ta

The surname Ta originates from several different regions, primarily China and Vietnam, but it is also found among various ethnic groups in other parts of Asia. In China, the surname Ta (谭) is one of the Five Great Families (五大姓), a group of prominent surnames that have been historically recognized for their cultural, political, and economic influence. It is most common in southern provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian. In Vietnam, Ta is a common surname among the Kinh ethnic majority, with concentrations in the Red River Delta region and the central coastal areas. The etymology of the name Ta can be traced back to ancient Chinese characters representing various concepts such as "to govern," "to follow," or "to hit." The diversity and distribution of the surname Ta reflect its long history and rich cultural heritage across Asia.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Ta"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 11 June 2025

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