Tilden

Tilden is a surname of English origin that has also been used as a place name in various countries. The best-known bearer of the name is Samuel J. Tilden, an American financier, lawyer, and politician who served as Governor of New York and was the Democratic candidate for president in 1876. He won the nationwide popular vote but did not secure the electoral votes needed to win the presidency, a result that contributed to the enduring debates over Reconstruction-era politics in the United States.

In addition to the surname, the name Tilden appears in geographic uses, including Fort Tilden in the Rockaways, Queens, New York. Fort Tilden is a coastal defense fort constructed in the early 20th century and later incorporated into Gateway National Recreation Area. The name is associated with several towns and communities in the United States, though none has the same historical prominence as the political figure or the military installation.