Surname Thornell - Meaning and Origin
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Thornell: What does the surname Thornell mean?
The last name Thornell is of English and Scandinavian origin. It is derived from the Old Norse elements "þorn," meaning "thorn" or "thorny bush," and "hǫll," meaning "slope" or "hill." Therefore, Thornell could be translated to mean "thorny hill" or "slope with thorny bushes." This suggests that the first bearers of the name may have lived near or been associated with such a geographical feature. It is important to clarify that surnames often morphed over time due to linguistic changes, regional dialects, and migration, so various spellings might exist for the same surname. For instance, Thornell may also appear as Thornhill, Thornehalle, Thornall, and other variants in historical records. Throughout history, humans have often used surnames as identifiers, representing a link to a person's occupation, geographical location, or family lineage. Thornell, therefore, can provide a glimpse into the lives and locations of our ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisThornell: Where does the name Thornell come from?
The last name Thornell is most commonly seen in the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. It is also a popular long-standing family name in Scotland, England and Australia.
In the United States, Thornell appears as a popular last name in states such as Alaska, North Dakota and Louisiana. In 2017, the Social Security Administration listed Thornell as the 8,381st most popular last name in the United States.
Thornell is a derivation of the English surname Longthorn, which was derived from the name of a Tall English Thorn Tree. The name indicates that the ancestors of the Thornell family may have lived near the English Thorn Tree.
The Thornel family’s ancestral roots can be traced back to the small English villages of Londonthorpe and Longthorpe, near Grantham in Lincolnshire. It is believed that the Thornel name was first found in these villages. Some of the earliest records of the family date back to the year 1112 when a William de Longthorn was registered as a witness in the church of Spettisbury near Blandford Forum, Dorset.
Today, the last name Thornell is still seen in various countries around the world. It is believed to have spread with those family members who moved to different countries for reasons like employment, marriage and religious freedom.
Variations of the surname Thornell
The surname Thornell is derived from two sources, Old English and Scandinavian. In Old English, the surname is derived from words meaning "thorn bush," while in Scandinavian, it refers to "thorn valley" or "thorn hillock."
Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Thornell include Tharnall, Thornhall, Tharnell, Thornelt, Tharnelt, Thorley, Thurnall, Thurnell, Thurnhill, Thuernall, Thurneal, Thurnil, Thurnule, Thurnhal, Thrusthull, Thorney, Therney, Thorwell, Thuernill, Thurnhull, Thurner, Tharneall, Tharneil, Thearhall, Thorneal, and Thurnerhill.
Thornell is also an uncommon alternative spelling of the more common Thurnall, which is derived from two separate sources, Anglo-Saxon and Old French. Anglo-Saxon variants of this surname are pronounced as "thur-nall", whereas its Old French variants are typically pronounced as "turn-al".
Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Thurnall include Thurnald, Thurnaull, Thurnell, Thurnhulle, Thurronell, Thurneld, Thurnhale, Thurnbelt, Thurnbil, Thurnhull, Thurner, Thorndall, Thurnhill, Thurnhale, Thurnendle, Thrurnall, Turnall, Thurnwald, Thorndell, Thurneaule, Thrurnelle, Thoorneal, Thurnuld, Thronal, Thurneauld, Thurnull, Thurnhild, and Thornal.
Famous people with the name Thornell
- Nate Thornell: is an American racing driver from Boise, Idaho, currently competing in the United Sports Car Championship.
- Willard Thornell: is an American ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1983 to 1989.
- Allyson Thornell: is an American television host and former basketball player.
- Chris Thornell: is an English drummer who has performed with acts such as Supergrass and The Darkness.
- Eric Thornell: is a Swedish handball player who competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Alfred Thornell: is an Australian former rugby league player who played in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Beatrice Thornell: is an American actress, best known for her roles in television sitcoms and films.
- Bruce Thornell: is an American artist, best known for his large-scale surreal paintings.
- Siobhan Thornell: is an Australian professional golfer who has won several championships.
- Amy Louise Thornell: is an Australian author, best known for her young adult novels.