Surname Thurkenton - Meaning and Origin

Thurkenton: What does the surname Thurkenton mean?

The surname Thurkenton is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is geographically derived from a location named Thirkenthwaite in the county of Westmoreland in England. The name is composed of two Old Norse words: "þjórr" meaning "Thor" (the name of the Norse god of thunder) and "kelda" meaning "spring". So, the origin of Thurkenton potentially means "spring of Thor". Like many surnames, it would have been used to identify individuals from that particular location. It should be noted that many such geographical surnames became more widespread as families moved and carried their names with them. It’s important to remember that the meaning and spelling of surnames may have evolved over centuries and might vary based on regions and dialects. Not much information is available about the Thurkenton surname, but an examination of historical records indicates that individuals with this surname have been primarily residing in the UK and the United States. Some notable people with this surname include American football player Fran Tarkenton. However, this spelling is different from Thurkenton, which demonstrates how surnames can change over time or due to migration.

Thurkenton: Where does the name Thurkenton come from?

The last name Thurkenton is currently most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the states of Utah, Texas, and California. It is also present in Canada, particularly in Quebec, and in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. This surname may have originated in England or Ireland, but may also have come from French-speaking areas of Europe. Early records show the Thurkenton name appearing in England as far back as the 16th century.

In Utah, Thurkenton is a very common surname, particularly in the eastern part of the state. In Texas, Thurkenton is most commonly found in Brazos County, located a few miles south of College Station. In California, Thurkenton is most commonly found in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. In Quebec, the surname is most commonly found in the Montérégie region near Montreal.

The Thurkentons are a family with a long and distinguished lineage. The surname is believed to have been derived from the Old Norse word "thorsk", meaning a life of Thor, the god of thunder. The name was sometimes translated to Thorsson or Thorisson in other European countries. Today, many Thurkentons play an active role in their communities, and many have achieved success in business and other fields.

Variations of the surname Thurkenton

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Thurkenton include:

Thirkettle, Throckinton, Thurgutom, Thurkinton, Thurgutom, Thurgutone, Thurguton, Thorcketon, Thurkentone, Thirkettle, Thorksington, Thorketson, Thorceton, Thorkinton, Thorketon, Thurketon, Thrugurton, Torkinton, Trigginton, Turcetton, Turcott, Turguton, and Yorkseton.

Thurkenton is a moniker or topographical name, derived from either the village in Northumberland, England, or from any of the places called Thirketon, which are named from the Old English hoerc ‘rigid’ or ‘stiff’ and tūn ‘settlement’, ‘enclosure’, ‘village’. The surname first appeared in 1391, when a Johannes de Tricurton declared himself a chaplin.

The modern surname can be found in various spellings, with helpful clues as to the original form. The suffix –son is often seen in northern England, from the Old Scandinavian patronymic system, where it means ‘son of Thirketon’. The Old Norse -thwaite or -thwait could mean ‘clearing’ or ‘meadow’, and when combined with Trot– or Thork– gives the spelling Thurceton or Thurketon. The name is also sometimes spelt without –ton, as Thirkettle, Thordson, Thurgutom or Thurgutone.

Akerman’s Somerset Famiy Names, dated from 1327, includes evidence of the surname Torkinton, which is likely to be related to the Thurkenton surname. Other variants include the rarely occurring Yorkseton.

The most common variants of the Thurkenton surname are likely to be Thorketon, Thorcketon and Thurgutom.

Famous people with the name Thurkenton

• Dan Thurkenton: His career has spanned both the music world as a jazz and gospel singer, and the world of acting as a voiceover artist in animated films.
• Ivan Thürkenton: the former Serbian footballer who last played for FC Inter Baki in Azerbaijan
• Kail Thürkenton: a contemporary German actress who has appeared on stage and in film
• Jack Thurston: a British technology journalist and author from BBC Radio 4's ‘Click’
• Georgia Thurkenton: an Australian model who was named ‘Model of the Year’ at the Australian Fashion Awards in 2012
• Alice Thurkenton: a British singer, songwriter, and musician.
• Alexander Thürkenton: a former Austrian swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
• George Thürkenton: a Canadian politician, and a former member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
• Clarence Thurkenton: an American politician who served as mayor of Norman, Oklahoma from 1919 to 1920.
• Sam Thurkenton: a retired professional ice hockey player in the NHL who spent the majority of his career with the New Jersey Devils.

Other surnames

Thurkengton