Surname Thorndike - Meaning and Origin
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Thorndike: What does the surname Thorndike mean?
The surname Thorndike is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a geographical locality. It primarily originates from the region of Lincolnshire in England. The name is made up of two Old English words: 'þorn', meaning 'thorn', and 'dic', meaning 'dike' or 'ditch'. Thus, Thorndike translates to 'the dike or ditch where thorns grow'. It typically referred to individuals living near such a landmark. Over time, it has been modified into various forms such as Thorneycroft, Thorne, and more. It is important to note that geographical surnames were among the earliest created, as they both identified the original bearer and provided people with easily recognizable signs for those who lived in the same area. This surname, like many other English names, began to be used from approximately the 11th to 12th centuries onwards. Today, individuals with the surname Thorndike can be found in many English-speaking countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisThorndike: Where does the name Thorndike come from?
The last name Thorndike is most commonly found in the United States and in Canada. In the United States, Massachusetts has the highest concentration of people bearing the Thorndike surname, followed by Maine, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. In the US Census of 2000, the surname Thorndike was most prevalent in Massachusetts and the median income was approximately in the mid-sixty-thousand range.
In Canada, the province of Ontario has the highest concentration of people with the last name Thorndike. The Ontario 2011 Census listed Thorndike as the 244th most common last name in the province.
In addition to the US and Canada, Thorndike is also a common surname in the United Kingdom, with the greatest concentration in London. The name is quite rare in continental Europe; it is present in France, but not in large numbers, and the last name does not appear in any form in Germany, Italy, or Spain.
Overall, Thorndike is an uncommon surname in both the United States and the United Kingdom, with an estimated 500-1000 people bearing the name Thorndike in the world.
Variations of the surname Thorndike
The surname Thorndike is one of the oldest surnames of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries. It has had several variants and spellings over the years, including Thornycroft, Thorold, Thorntoke, Thornyock and Thorntwaite, among others. The most obvious derivative from the original surname Thorndike is the variant Thorold, which is a much more common spelling today.
Thorndike is an Old English surname derived from the Old Norse given name Thórandi, combined with a locative suffix. The original spelling was “Thorn-dic”, with “dic” meaning “a deep valley”. As a result, letter substitutions, such as “Thorndike” and “Thornycroft”, are seen in modern surnames from this origin.
The Thorndike family is thought to have originated from Norfolk in the east of England and has descended and spread across other English counties during the centuries. These include, but are not limited to, counties such as Suffolk and Kent.
The name is also commonly seen in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, as many of the family's members made their way to the New World. Here, the name has developed a few common American variants, such as “Thornyock” and “Thorntwaite”.
Thus, today, Thorndike is one of the most widespread English surnames, and its manyvariations are found around the globe.
Famous people with the name Thorndike
- Lionel Thorndike: English actor known for roles on stage and screen
- Edward Thorndike: American psychologist who developed influential theories of connectionism
- Henry Thorndike: American physicist and professor at MIT who discovered the law of thermal conduction
- William Thorndike: American financier and philanthropist
- Sarah Thorndike: American accountant and lawyer
- Richard Thorndike: American actor known for roles in films and television
- Christopher Thorndike: American actor known for roles in comedy films
- Annmarie Thorndike: British actress and director
- Brandon Thorndike: American actor
- Ursula Thorndike: British actress