Surname Thornham - Meaning and Origin

Thornham: What does the surname Thornham mean?

The surname Thornham is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a geographical or locational surname. It is derived from a place named Thornham, found in several parts of England including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lancashire. The name Thornham combines two old English words: "thorn", which means a thorn bush, and "ham" which means a homestead or a village. Thus, Thornham generally translates to "a village or homestead where thorn bushes grow". Locational surnames like Thornham were typically given to the lord of the manor, or to those who left their original homes and moved to another place. It helped to identify where a person came from. Please note that the exact origins and meanings of surnames can vary and may be subject to different interpretations.

Thornham: Where does the name Thornham come from?

The last name Thornham is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today, especially in the northern regions. It is also found in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

In England, the Thornham surname is particularly common in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Shropshire. The earliest Thornham record was found in the 13th century in Lancashire. The name has since spread across the UK, with concentrations in London, Oxford, and Birmingham.

In the United States, the Thornham name is present in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts in particular. The earliest American records of the name come from the 17th century when Thomas Thornham arrived in Massachusetts.

The name pops up in Canada in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta since the late 19th century. The arrival of the Thornhams in Alberta coincided with the establishment of homesteads.

In Australia, the Thornham name has been found in New South Wales since the mid-19th century. It is particularly prevalent around the Broken Hill and Dubbo areas.

No matter where the Thornham name appears, it is usually associated with pioneering spirit and perseverance. The family story is one of hardworking people that have moved to new territories and found success in their new homes.

Variations of the surname Thornham

The surname Thornham has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin which include: Thornam, Thormam, Thorham, Thornholm, Thornam, and Thurnham.

Thornam derives from Old English and Middle English and is a combination of two words. The first part of the name is ‘thorn’ which means ‘thorn’ or ‘bush’, whilst the second part of the name is ‘ham’ which means ‘home’ or ‘enclosure’. It refers to somebody who lived by a thorn bush or near a thorn bush.

Thormam derives from Old Norse language and is also a combination of two words. The first part is ‘thorn’ which refers to ‘thorn bush’ and the second part is ‘Dam’ which is a nickname for Dan or David. Therefore, this name could also refer to somebody who lived by a thorn bush.

The spelling Thorham is derived from Anglo-Norman language and it can be found in Yorkshire records. It is a combination of two words - ‘thorn’ meaning ‘thorn bush’ and ‘ham’ which refers to ‘home’ or ‘enclosure’.

Thornholm is also derived from Old Norse language, and it is a combination of two words - ‘thorn’ which refers to ‘thorn bush’ and ‘holm’ which refers to ‘island’. This name could also refer to somebody who had their home in an area surrounded by thorn bushes.

Thornam is another variant of the surname Thornam and it derives from Anglo-Norman language. It is a combination of two words ‘thorn’ which means ‘thorn bush’ and ‘am’ or ‘amme’ which is an old English word meaning 'a river meadow'.

Finally, the surname Thurnham is derived from Old English language, and it is combination of two words - ‘thorn’ which means ‘thorn bush’ and ‘ham’ which refers to ‘home’ or ‘enclosure’. Ultimately, this surname could have been used to describe someone who lived by a thorn bush or near a thorn bush.

Famous people with the name Thornham

• Brett Thornham, former New Zealand All Blacks rugby player.
• Dr. Ruth Thornham, British sociologist and professor at the University of Sheffield.
• Lisa Thornham, British professional basketball player.
• Eric Thornham, British actor in several films including the James Bond movie GoldenEye.
• John Thornham, English cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club in the late 1800s.
• Bob Thornham, former rugby union player for Harlequins and England.
• David Thornham, former chief executive of the British Hospitality Association.
• Billy Thornham, former Australian rugby league footballer.
• Henry Thornham, former England rugby union international player.
• Rob Thornham, former player and manager of the English football team Rushden & Diamonds.

Other surnames

Thornhill