Surname Thrift - Meaning and Origin
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Thrift: What does the surname Thrift mean?
The surname Thrift has dual origins, both English and Scottish. In English, it is derived from an old noun 'thrift' that signifies 'prosperity' or 'success'. The name was often given as a nickname to someone who was very prosperous or successful. It could also be a metonymic occupational name for a gardener or a tender of plants, particularly someone in charge of a royal garden, since 'thrift' is a type of plant. In Old Norse, it means 'strong' or 'thriving'. In the Scottish context, Thrift is a habitational name from the lands of Threeft in the parish of Dunlop, Ayrshire. The spelling of the name has been modified over the centuries, with alternative forms including Threft, Threeft, Threep, Threap, Thrieft, and others. In any case, the name may have been situational and given to someone who lived at a place where the plant thrived or metaphorically for a person who was doing well in life. As with any surname, individual bearers can often trace it back to different origins or meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisThrift: Where does the name Thrift come from?
The last name Thrift is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and the United States today. In the United Kingdom, the Thrift family can trace its roots back to Wiltshire, England, near the town of Bath. It is thought that the name is derived from the Old English word Thryft, meaning "industry". It is likely that the Thrift family name was bestowed upon an individual who was known for their hard work and dedication to their craft.
In the United States, Thrift is a name found mainly in the southeastern states, specially in Georgia. The name is likely derived from the Scottish Thryft family, who emigrated to the United States in the early 1700s. The Scotch-Irish settlers are named as one of the first Thrifts to come to America, settling in Georgia and the Carolinas.
In recent decades, the family name has spread to other parts of the United States, including the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific states. It is rarely found in the northern states. More than a quarter of all American Thrifts now live in Georgia, and the state also hosts the country's oldest Thrift cemetery.
In the United Kingdom, the Thrift name is most common in and around Manchester, England. This is likely because many of the oldest Thrift families moved north from Wiltshire.
Regardless of its region, the last name Thrift today is a reflection of the hardworking and passionate individuals who bore it in the past. The Thrift name has been associated with people who have dedicated their lives to their craft and who have left behind a legacy of hard work and dedication.
Variations of the surname Thrift
Thrift is a surname of English origin most likely derived from the Old English term þrifte, meaning “care” or “thriftiness”. The variants or alternate spellings of Thrift include Thrifte, Thryft, Thryfte, Thriftie, Thriftey, and Thrifty. Surnames of the same origin include Thrift, Thriff, Thriffey, Thriffie, Thrifty, Thrist, Thrister, and Thristy.
Thrift may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who was skilled at managing their finances or someone who was in charge of the accounts of an estate. It may have also been adopted as a nickname for someone who was known for their careful and frugal spending habits.
Thrift is one of a group of English surnames based on characteristics or qualities appreciated by the people of Medieval England. These names, which often have the suffix -th, were mostly created after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Other surnames in this category include Strength, Craft, Wealth, and Health.
The Thrift surname can be found in various records across England, particularly in the East Midlands region. It can also be found in countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There are even records of it in South Africa and Southern India. In the United States, the Thrift surname can be found from Massachusetts to Florida, and further west into California.
Famous people with the name Thrift
- Jake Thrift: Former Professional Footballer and Sports Broadcaster
- Fred Thrift: Former NFL Defensive Back
- Roger Thrift: Professional Golfer
- Lynne Thrift: Olympic Sprinter
- Steve Thrift: Technology Industry Executive
- Lily Thrift: Television Host and Actress
- Thomas Thrift: Actor
- John Thrift: Singer and Musician
- Paul Thrift: Singer and Songwriter
- Israel Thrift: Professional Boxer
- Boniface Thrift: Director
- Nancy Thrift: Grand Opera Singer
- Ruth Thrift: English Novelist
- Johnathan Thrift– Chef
- Sarah Thrift: Sculptor
- Rory Thrift: Radio Broadcaster
- Michael Thrift: Executive Producer
- David Thrift: Painter
- Margaret Thrift: Singer
- Graham Thrift: Composer