Surname Thorne - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling Ancestral Mystery: How iGENEA Recast My Perspective on the Surname Thorne
Unearthing unexpected layers of my ancestry with the iGENEA DNA test, I discovered the Thorne lineage extended beyond the English heritage I previously identified with. Discovering Scandinavian and Italian roots through this journey of self-discovery, the meaning of my surname, and my connection to the world has been fundamentally transformed.
J. Thorne
read moreThorne: What does the surname Thorne mean?
The surname Thorne is of English and Scottish origin and it is derived from the Old English word "þorn", meaning "thorn". It was traditionally used to describe a person who lived near a thorn bush or a thorny area. It is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Therefore, the original bearers of the Thorne surname likely lived or worked in or near a thorny area, such as a patch of thorn bushes or a hawthorn tree. Thorne is also associated with various places named Thorne, found in Surrey, Somerset, and South Yorkshire. Over the years, variations of the spelling have been used, including Thorn, Thorne, Thorman, Athorn, and Thurn.
Order DNA origin analysisThorne: Where does the name Thorne come from?
The last name Thorne is thought to have originated from the Norse-Viking culture and is thought to have either been a location-based surname referring to the thorny shrubs found in Northern Europe, or a occupational surname for someone whose job it was to manage thorny shrubs. Today, the surname Thorne is quite widespread, with some of the most recent figures suggesting it is most common in England, with 6,613 people using the last name in 2011. It is also found in the United States and Canada, although not as widely as in the UK.
In the US, Thorne is most commonly associated with states in the South-eastern region, with the highest concentration found in South Carolina. In 2011, census figures indicated that over 2,000 African-American individuals shared Thorne as their surname. Outside of this, it is spread throughout the states, with California and Texas having the next highest concentration of individuals surnamed Thorne.
In Canada, the surname is most common in the provinces of Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario. According to 2016 census figures, Quebec, in particular, yields the highest concentration of individuals surnamed Thorne, with over 500 individuals sharing the name.
Overall, the surname Thorne is one that is found in many parts of the world, but a strong presence is noticed in the South-East of the US and three Canadian provinces.
Variations of the surname Thorne
The surname Thorne is of English origin and is a variant spelling of Thorn. Additional variants and spellings of the surname include Thorme, Thorm, Thirn, Thurn, Thurne, Thorn, Thornn, Thornee, Thorney, and Thurn.
This surname is derived from the Middle English word "thorn," referring to a sharp, prickly plant and is linked to the Old English word, 'þorn.' It was used to indicate someone who lived in or near a place where thorns and prickly plants grew.
The surname Thorne has been used to refer to several locations throughout England, with the famous Thurnham Castle in Lancashire dating back to the 12th century. Additionally, the spellings Thorne and Thurn were adopted as place names in Hertfordshire, Dorset, Sussex, Kent, Lancashire, Devon, and Scotland.
The variants Thorne and Thurn are also recorded in several languages, including Dutch, Polish, Norwegian, and Spanish. It is a common Anglo-Scottish and Hispanic surname throughout North America as a result of immigration from English-speaking countries in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The associated surnames with the surname Thorne include Thorme, Thorm, Thirn, Thurn, Thurne, Thorn, Thornn, Thornee, Thorney, and Thurn. Associated surnames may be of a different spelling or origin, such as Torne, Torneaux, Tarn, Tarnow, Tornow, Thormauer, and Tornvall.
The spelling of the surname may also have changed over time, with spellings such as Thorn, Tourney, Tormay, Torney, and Thourne found in early documents. Additionally, Thorne is occasionally associated with one of several Norse or Anglo-Saxon surnames, such as Thjorn or Thurnwald.
Famous people with the name Thorne
- Bella Thorne: American actress, singer, author, sexual assault advocate and director.
- Nick Thorne: British equestrian rider who competed in show jumping.
- Alec Thorne: English actor best known for his roles on the British television series, Doctor Who, Sherlock and the EastEnders.
- Kay Thorne: Former British actor, writer and director.
- Melissa Thorne: Canadian actress who appears in several television shows including “Degrassi: The Next Generation”.
- Sam Thorne: British author, journalist and former television presenter.
- Shirley Thorne: British character actress of stage, television and film.
- Sarah Thorne: American singer-songwriter and musician.
- Michelle Thorne: British television director and producer.
- Mark Thorne: British actor and television presenter.