Tifft

Etymology and Origins

Tifft is a surname of English origin, serving as a variant of Toft. The name Toft itself derives from one of the many places in Britain bearing that name, ultimately from Old Norse topt, meaning "homestead" or "messuage." The related variant Taft shares the same root, making these surnames toponymic in nature, indicating a family's ancestral connection to a particular settlement or farmstead.

Notable Bearers

Several notable individuals have carried the surname Tifft, particularly in the United States. Matt Tifft (born 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Cup Series. Susan Tifft (1951–2010) was a distinguished journalist, author, and educator, known for her tenure as a writer for Time magazine and her work on media ownership. William G. Tifft is an American astronomer recognized for his research on galaxy redshift and the possible quantization of extragalactic redshifts.

• Meaning: Variant of Toft, from Old Norse meaning "homestead"
• Origin: English, toponymic
• Related Surnames: Toft, Taft
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: United States, English-speaking countries