Surname Thor - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Thor: What does the surname Thor mean?
The last name Thor is of Old Norse origin and is derived from the name of the Norse god of thunder, Thor. The name is a symbol of strength, protection, and sanctity. The masculine name was commonly used in Scandinavia, and with the Viking voyages, it spread to other parts of Europe. In Old Norse, the name can be translated to "thunder", attributing to the god's control over the weather. Over ages, it became a popular first name and last name among Scandinavians and Germanic tribes because of its powerful connotations. Its usage as a surname, though less common, typically denotes a familial connection or implies descendants who are "sons of Thor". However, interpretations may vary based on geographical locations and cultural contexts. It continues to be used today in many forms across cultures, signaling the enduring influence of Norse mythology.
Order DNA origin analysisThor: Where does the name Thor come from?
The last name Thor is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Thor is an ancient Scandinavian name derived from the god of thunder in Norse mythology. It is also the modern Swedish and Danish equivalent of the English given name 'Thor'. The name Thor is one of the most popular Scandinavian surnames.
In Sweden the name is found in the northern counties, especially in the provinces of Gävle, Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland. In Norway the name is native to several regions like Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Nordland, and Troms, although it can be found in all Norwegian counties.
In addition to Scandinavia, the name Thor is also quite common in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia, and its frequency is increasing.
Despite having an old origin, the name Thor carries a strong and positive image. Thor is still a popular name today thanks to the comic book character of the Marvel Universe, but the history of the name Thor predates the superhero.
Variations of the surname Thor
Thor is a common Norse surname derived from Old Norse Þórr, which is derived from a root word meaning "thunder." It's the same as the name of the Norse god of thunder. Variations of Thor include Thors, Thorr, and Thoressen, among others. Other spellings include Thore, Thorre, Thyers, and Thorris.
This surname is most common in Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland. In Scandinavian countries, the surname may be found spelled as the traditional “Thor,” as well as variations such as “Thoor” in Icelandic and “Thorr” in Norwegian. In Finland, it is also spelled “Tohr”.
As this surname is rooted in Old Norse and is primarily found in Scandinavian countries, variants and surnames of Thor may also have Old Norse and Germanic roots. Some possible variants in these root languages are Tor, Toer, Toerri, Torsson, Torsen, and Dorsson.
Other surnames that derive from the same root as Thor include Torsdotter, Thörn, Thoresson, and Thorsen, which are all variations of the original Old Norse name for the same rootword.
In some cases, Thor might be an Anglicized version of other surnames, like the Irish name O’Torr or the Scottish Torrie, which are derived from the Gaelic Mac Torcaill.
In summary, the surname Thor has various spelling variants and surname variants that may be derived from Old Norse, Germanic, Gaelic, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Finnish roots, along with Anglicized forms of Irish and Scottish names.
Famous people with the name Thor
- Chris Hemsworth: Australian actor best known for playing the Marvel superhero Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
- Matt Damon: American actor and filmmaker best known for his role in the Thor Ragnarok film.
- Robert Downey Jr.: American actor who portrayed Tony Stark/Iron Man in the same Marvel films.
- Donald Trump Jr.: Son of US President Donald Trump and a businessman, with his mother's maiden name being Thor.
- Bjorn Thoransson: Icelandic professional football goalkeeper who plays for Viking FK.
- MyAnna Buring: English actress who starred in the horror film The Descent and also appeared in Thor: The Dark World.
- Bill Thor: Canadian actor and producer whose most known works include the films Thor and Alien.
- Brett Dalton: American actor who played Grant Ward in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Kim Thorsen: Danish actor who starred in the Marvel film Doctor Strange.
- JoBlo Thor: Actor and producer known for the films Fetch and Redfern Now.