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other versions of this surname
The family of Tilney is of Norman origin, but the name Tilney is English. Lord Frodo (Fredericus) from Normandy was assisting in the great survey for Edward the Confessor. Edwards mother was a Lady from Normandy. Lord Frodo was gifted many lands by King Edward (pre 1066) amongst those being the Marsh Lands between Wisbech and Kings Lynn. These were confirmed in due course by William after 1066. The main family name of Tilney started with Lord Frodo, who adopted the name when it was required to register lands. He was simply Frodo de Tilney, taken from the villages called Tilney in his Norfolk/Cambridgeshire lands. The area of Tilney has several probable origins. Many claim it is a derivative of the name of a local farmer, others it means son of a builder, but I suggest the most likely it comes from Near Water/By Water. Tilney All Saints (as it is now known, and is the largest village of the Tilney's) was by the original river Ouse. This silted up and changed course, leaving highly fertile lands. By 1086 according to the Tilney Scroll (Norwich Museam, and a copy at Tilney All Saints Church) Lord Frodo was known as Frodo (Fredericus de Tilney) and his ancestors kept that name. Various spellings of the name exist (due to pheonetic spelling) Tilney/Tillney/Tilne/Tylne/Tylney/de Tylney/Tylne