Meaning and Origin
What does the name Tong mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Tong
User Submitted Origins
Chinese
70%
Thai
10%
English
10%
Vietnamese
10%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from Germany, the name Tong means "Multiple origins exist:. 1. A place name derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for tongue, where a river or road splits. This name would be for a person dwelling at that location next to the river or road. 2. Tong means 'North' in Old Norse so this name could be used for a person in the British isles that has come from Northern lands (like Scandinavia). 3. A trade name for a blacksmith's apprentice/assistant that would hold the tongs when assisting the smith in their work. 4. A variant of tongue, an Anglo-Saxon name for a person that is known for their speech or voice or even given to a tell-tale or scold".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun
Tongue.
noun Tong
In China, an association, secret society, or organization of any kind; in the United States, usually, a secret association of Chinese such as that of the highbinders; in the U. S. the tongs have been frequently associated with criminal activity and gang warfare.
Etymology: Chinese t'ang, lit., hall
Wiktionary
From Old English tange, from Proto-Germanic *tangō, from Proto-Indo-European *denḱ- (“to bite”). Cognate with Old Norse tǫng (modern Icelandic töng), Old High German zanga (modern German Zange). Other cognates include Sanskrit दशति (dáśati, “to bite”) and Albanian dang (“bite, nip”).
- An instrument or tool used for manipulating things in a fire without touching them with the hands.
From Cantonese 堂 (tong⁴).
- A Chinese secret society or gang.
tong was also found in the following language(s): Afrikaans, Chuukese, Dutch, Malay, Mandarin, Norwegian Nynorsk, Vietnamese, and Westrobothnian