Surname Thorndyke - Meaning and Origin
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Thorndyke: What does the surname Thorndyke mean?
The surname Thorndyke is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a geographical locality. It is a compound of two Old English words - 'þorn', which means 'thorn bush', and 'dīc' which translates to 'dyke' or 'ditch'. The surname could indicate someone who lived near a ditch or watercourse characterized by thorn bushes. The specific location of the original bearer is uncertain, as there are various places in England where such geographical features are common. The surname manifests the ancient tradition of adopting place names to identify individuals. Over centuries, the spelling has undergone changes and may appear with variations such as Thorndike, Thorneycroft, etc. Thus, someone with the Thorndyke surname shares a connection with the natural landscapes of ancient Britain.
Order DNA origin analysisThorndyke: Where does the name Thorndyke come from?
The last name Thorndyke is found in most of the English-speaking countries in the world today, mainly concentrated in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the United Kingdom, it is most common in the south east of England, particularly in and around the London area. Historically, the name Thorndyke came from the old English word, “þurne,” which means “thorn” and is related to the old Norse word “þorn” which means “pole.” The name was historically given to those who lived near a thorn bush, or near a stake in the ground.
In the United States, the name is found distributed throughout all of the states. It is most common in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, and California. In Canada, the name is found mainly in Ontario and British Columbia and is more evenly distributed throught the remaining provinces. In Australia, it is mainly found in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
The number of individuals with the last name Thorndyke is relatively small, estimated at around 3000 persons throughout the world, and mainly found in the English-speaking countries. However, with a name that promises a long history and is relatively uncommon, today the family name Thorndyke may still be an uncommonly unique name that will stand out in anyone’s family line.
Variations of the surname Thorndyke
Thorndyke is a surname of British origin primarily found in southern England and Wales. The variants, spellings and surnames for Thorndyke are as follows:
The surname Thorndyke can be spelled as Thorndike, Thorn(e)dyke, Thornyke, Thorneyk, Thorneyke, Thorndicke, Thorndickey, and Thorn(e)dick.
Early records of the surname Thorndyke date back to the 13th century when it was found mainly in Devon and Wiltshire. The name is believed to originate from the Old English word “thorn”, which means a tree or bush, and “dyke”, which referred to a dike or fence. It is also possible that it comes from the Old English personal names “Thorn” and “Dyke”.
The other surnames associated with the Thorndyke surname are equivalent spellings such as Thornicke, Thronicke, Thurnicke, Thurndicke, Thorndike, Thurne, Thurney, Thurneys, Thurness, and Thurnese.
Surnames with similar origin as Thorndyke are Tearne, Thorine, Tharin, Threadgold, Thrap, Threap, and Threapleton.
The Thorndyke surname is also found in other English speaking countries, including Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the United States. In the United States, some of the branches include the Thorne, Thornely, Thornhill, Thornborough, Thornbrough, Thonenberg, and Thorniche.
The Thorndyke surname has seen a change in spelling and orthography over the years, but remains an easily recognizable family name in many parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Thorndyke
- Tom Thorndyke: an American actor, known for his roles such as Andrew J. Edison on The Young and the Restless and Marcus on Rosewood.
- Edna Thorndyke: an American actress, who starred in over 100 films in the early 20th century.
- Alf Thorndyke: a British actor and comedian, most known for appearing in the 1980s sitcom Terry and June.
- Stanley Thorndyke: an English cricketer who competed in the first-class cricket matches in the 19th century.
- Steve Thorndyke: an American football player who played as an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1990s.
- Samuel Thorndyke: an American jazz trumpeter who played with Charlie Parker in the 1940s.
- William Thorndyke: an English astronomer and mathematician in the 17th century.
- Ira Thorndyke: an American silent movie actor, who is credited in over 60 films between 1915 and 1929.
- Olly Thorndyke: a British-Australian actor, dancer, and singer who has crafted a career in musical theatre, television, and cabaret.
- Sarah Thorndyke: an American Olympic medalist, who competed in synchronized swimming in the 2008 Summer Olympics.