Tarkington is a name, which was used by the Vikings, an ancient Scandinavian people who migrated to England and then to the U.S.. They settled in Maryland, then Virginia, and later moved to Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Later they migirated to Texas and Tennessee. Others went to Indiana and Kentucky.
John Tarkington, Sr., his wife Prudence, their son John, Jr. and wife Martha, and their son William Joshua came to America in about 1668. They settled on 250 acres (1.0 km2) of land in Baltimore County, Maryland. The plantation was named "The Grove".
John Tarkington was one of the original settlers of Maryland. He began to accumulate property by getting settlers to move to a certain locality. In 1675 he transported a group into the province to inhabit Cecil County and obtained 560 acres (2.3 km2) for himself.
John Tarkington had a son Samuel, whom it is said was killed or kidnapped by the American Indians.
Booth Tarkington's ancestors migrated through Tyrrell County, North Carolina and then on to Indiana.