Surname Thorton - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Thorton Name: A Personal Odyssey Through the Lens of an iGENEA DNA Test
Discovering distinct Celtic roots through my iGENEA DNA test has significantly widened my perception of the Thorton family name. This unexpected revelation weaved a vibrant cultural thread into my understanding of my heritage and fueled my fascination with our ancestry's complexity, extending beyond traditional family tree diagrams.
Q. Thorton
read moreThorton: What does the surname Thorton mean?
The last name Thorton has many origins, and its roots can be traced back to England and Scotland. In some cases, the name originated as a local surname from a place name, referring to a person who was originally from the settlement of Thornton in Lincolnshire, England or from several places in Scotland. In other cases, the name is derived from the Old English personal name Thurstan, meaning "thor's stone".
The earliest record of the name is in the county of Kent, in 1273, where a man called Elias de Thorton is mentioned in the feet of fines. Since then, the name has spread throughout England and Scotland, driven by migration and intermarriage. The last name has been recorded in Scotland as early as the 14th century, when John Thorton was granted possession of property in Haddinton.
The Thorton name is also used as an occupational surname for a person who cultivated and harvested thorns; as a personal name for someone who was brave or bold; and as a nickname for someone who came from a place associated with the name.
In modern times, the name is still relatively common, and can be found today in many countries around the world as a result of migration and intermarriage. It is also common as part of a family name, linking generations of descendants with their ancestors. The meaning of the name is often taken to be a symbol of strength, courage, and protection.
Order DNA origin analysisThorton: Where does the name Thorton come from?
The last name Thornton is most commonly found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and South Africa. In the United States, the last name is most prevalent in the states of California, Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. According to some estimates, over 200,000 people have the last name Thornton in the United States today.
In the United Kingdom, Thornton is most common in the London and Leeds metropolitan areas, as well as Manchester. In Australia, the last name is prominent in New South Wales and Victoria. According to census data, there are roughly 24,000 people with the last name Thornton across the entire country.
In Canada, Thornton is most common in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. South Africa also has a considerable presence of the last name, with over 18,000 identified people with the last name Thornton in 2017, according to census data.
Variations of the surname Thorton
The surname Thornton is an Anglo-Saxon patronymic name, meaning "son of Thornton" from the Old English pre 7th century personal name "Thorn," which was derived from the element "thorn," meaning "thornbush or thicket." Over the years, the surname Thornton has appeared in a variety of spellings including Thornton, Thorton, Thorneton, Thurneton, Tourneton, Thurneyton, Thornyton, Thorneton, Tirleton and many more. There are also patronymic variations like Thorneson, Thornson, Thorns, Thornsen, Thornwell and others derived from the osunding of "Thorn's son." Non-patronymic variations include Thorton, Thornton, Thurnon, and others.
The Thornton surname first appeared in Middlesex where records show that Robert de Thirleton was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1248. In Scotland, members of the Thornton family were anciently associated with the lands of Lord Thorton in Shetland, the old baronial lands of Thorton in Clackmannanshire, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307). Notable members of the Thornton family include Major-General Sir Henry Ernest Thornton (1852-1932), an officer in the British Army who fought during the Second Boer War, vilified for his assault on Pretoria, and Major General Hugh Martyn Thornton, D.S.O. (1914-1997), an author who wrote several books on Napoleonic history.
Famous people with the name Thorton
- Billy Bob Thornton: Academy Award-winning actor, director, writer, and producer. Thornton is perhaps best known for his roles in the films Sling Blade, A Simple Plan, Monster's Ball, and Bad Santa.
- Travis Thornton: Professional basketball player who most recently played with OKK Sloboda Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Terrance Thornton: Grammy Award-winning American rapper known professionally as “Pusha T”.
- Tina Thornton: Former American businesswoman and entrepreneur who co-founded the Tempur-Pedic sleep-products company.
- Nicholas Thornton: Professional British Columbia-based photographer.
- Dwane Thornton: Former American football tight end who played for the San Francisco 49ers (1984–1985).
- Tom Thornton: British actor best known for his role in The Inbetweeners Movie.
- Fran Thornton: Scottish novelist and journalist best known for her novels including The Horse Whisperer.
- Marvyn Thornton: American painter and sculptor.
- Amos Thornton: 19th century American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Arkansas from 1875 to 1877.