Surname Thorner - Meaning and Origin
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Thorner: What does the surname Thorner mean?
The surname Thorner is believed to be of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse "Þorn," meaning a thorn and the suffix "-er" implying "dweller." Hence, it signifies someone who lived near a thorn bush or thorny area. However, it can also be geographical, referencing individuals from places named Thorner, mainly found in the United Kingdom. The name is ancient, potentially connected to the Viking era, and spread to other parts of the world with migration. It can be found in different forms depending on the region, like Thorn, Thorner, Thorne, Thrane, and others. As with many surnames, variations in spelling often occurred due to issues of translation and transcription over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisThorner: Where does the name Thorner come from?
The last name Thorner is most commonly found in the Scandinavian countries, especially in Sweden. It is a patronymic name from the Old Norse form Þórnarr, which is composed of the elements Þórr (Thor) and herr (army). The original bearer of the Thorner name was likely a son of Thor.
In Sweden, the Thorner name is fairly evenly distributed, with the highest concentrations being found in the counties of Jönköping and Skåne. Outside of Sweden, the Thorner name can also be found in Denmark, Norway, and Germany. In the United States, the Thorner name is found mostly in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In England, it is concentrated in the area of the city of London.
It is possible to trace a Thorner family's lineage all the way back to the Viking era through church records and other historical documents. Today, the Thorner name continues to be a rare but cherished surname. There are many people around the world that are proud to carry the Thorner name and continue to carry on this ancient family legacy.
Variations of the surname Thorner
The surname Thorner has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variations include Tornier, Thornton, Thurner, Thormer, Thanner, Thurner, Thormer, Thurner and Thurneau.
The surname Thorner originated in England and France. In France, the surname spelled Thurnier, or Thurnierus. The phonetic spelling is thought to be of German origin, most likely derived from a personal name such as Thurno, Thurnheim, Thurnher or Thurnwalder.
In England, the spelling of the surname Thorner can be traced back to the mid-13th century. Some sources link the surname to the Old English word ‘thorn’, meaning ‘a bush’ or ‘bramble’. This could suggest that the surname was associated with an area of land that was known to have brambles or similar vegetation.
The surname Thornton is derived from the same roots as Thorner and is thought to be a variation of the spelling Thorner. The spelling Thornton is believed to be of Scots-Irish origin and was popularized by the Scottish who had settled in Northern Ireland.
The surname Thurner is thought to be a variation of the German form of the surname Thorner and is also commonly found in Germany. The spelling Thurner could have arisen due to dialectical variations in pronunciation and spelling.
The name Thormer is a German variation of the spelling Thorner and is believed to derive from a German personal name, such as Thormo or Thormann. The surname Thanner could be a variant of the original Thorner spelling or it could be a German variation of the surname, derived from the personal name Thanmann.
There are many other variations and spellings of the surname Thorner, as well as related surnames that have arisen due to dialectical and cultural variations over time.
Famous people with the name Thorner
- Elizabeth Thorner: American TV producer and writer best known for her work on the TV series The Drew Carey Show.
- Gary Thorner: Former professional American football nose tackle who played four seasons in the NFL.
- Gunnar Thorner: Swedish politician who was leader of the Social Democratic party from 1938 to 1945.
- Mitchell Thorner: American journalist, author, and editor who was a founding editor of The New Yorker in 1925.
- Richard Thorner: Austrian pediatrician and children's rights advocate who was appointed to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 1956.
- Robert Thorner: Former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1948 and 1949.
- Scott Thorner: American environmental conservationist and writer best known for his book The Last Great Forest on the conservation efforts of the Pine Barrens.
- Steven Thorner: Former professional American soccer player who played in the U.S. Pro Soccer League from 1980 to 1983.
- Johannes Thorner: Swedish botanist who was the first director of the Stockholm Botanical Garden in 1787.
- Ian Thorner: British video game designer who wrote the coding for the classic game Prince of Persia.