Surname Thorness - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Thorness: What does the surname Thorness mean?
The last name Thorness is of Scandinavian origin, more specifically from Norway. The name is derived from the combination of two elements: "thorn," which is indicative of a thorny plant or a place covered with thorn bushes, and "ness," meaning headland or promontory. Thus, Thorness can be understood to mean 'thorn headland', possibly indicating a geographical characteristic of an ancestral homestead. Like many surnames, it would have been a descriptive term used to distinguish people living in or near such a geographical feature. The usage of geographical features in naming is a common practice in many cultures, intended as a means of identifying individuals or families. This name, like others, would have been passed down through generations, thus keeping the connection to their roots and ancestry. However, the specific etymology can vary based on regional linguistic differences and spellings. Therefore, for a detailed and accurate interpretation, expert genealogical research would be beneficial.
Order DNA origin analysisThorness: Where does the name Thorness come from?
The surname Thorness is most common in Norway today. Data from the Norwegian national registry (Ssb.no) reveals that in 2020, there were around 440 people living in Norway with the surname Thorness. This makes the surname more than 26 times rarer than the most common surname in Norway, Hansen.
The Thorness surname traces its roots to the mid-19th century, when it first appeared among a few isolated families in the Karmøy and Førde districts in southwestern Norway. This area is on the coast of the North Sea, and is home to the county of Rogaland.
Growth of the Thorness surname accelerated during the late 19th century and early 20th century, as members of this family emigrated to other parts of the world in search of better economic opportunities. To this day, there can be found Thorness-surnamed individuals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries throughout the world.
Nonetheless, the majority of Thorness-surnamed individuals can still be found in Rogaland, particularly in the Karmøy and Førde districts. The close knit Thorness community in this region continues to pride itself on its heritage, and its strong ties to the local culture and language.
Variations of the surname Thorness
Thorness is a surname derived from the words “thorn” and “ness” that refers to someone who lives on a coastal region with a lot of thorns and/or briars. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that originates from the United Kingdom and Ireland and is primarily found in these countries today.
Common variants of the name Thorness include Thorns, Thornasse, Thornass, Thornes, Thornsess and Thurness. Less common variants are Thurnes, Thurnace, Thurnis, Thurniss, Thurnesse and Thornusk.
Surnames of the same origin as Thorness include Thorpe, Turf, Thornhill, Thorneycroft, Thornburg, and Thurburn.
The spelling of the name Thorness has remained consistent throughout history, although in some cases there are minor local variations that are often found in counties throughout the UK and Ireland. For example, in some regions of Ireland the surname is spelled Thurniss.
Overall, Thorness is a unique and distinct name that has deep roots throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. It continues to be a popular surname in those countries, although variations of the name are commonly found elsewhere in the world.
Famous people with the name Thorness
- Ella Thorness: Canadian actor known for her work on Super I.Q. and The Wishing Tree.
- Kari Thorness: American author, speaker, and entrepreneur.
- Ivan Thorness: Norwegian evangelist, author, and Christian missionary, popularly known as “Brother Ivan”.
- Tony Thorness: Former NFL football player and sports radio talk show host.
- Torbjorn Thorness: Norwegian soccer player.
- Brooke Thorness: Australian field hockey player.
- Ingvar Thorness: Norwegian Olympic skier.
- Anke Thorness: German singer and songwriter.
- Kjell Thorness: Norwegian entrepreneur and environmental advocate.
- Peter Thorness: Swedish jazz musician and composer.
- Sondre Thorness: Norwegian racecar driver.
- Adam Thorness: American television producer and writer.
- Emilie Thorness: Norwegian artist.
- Trygve Thorness: Norwegian director and producer of television and film.
- Jayme Thorness: American artist, photographer, and sculptor.