Surname Thorniley - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Thorniley: What does the surname Thorniley mean?
The surname Thorniley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational name derived from an unknown or now "lost" place believed to have been situated in Northern England. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English elements "þorn", meaning thorn bush or hedge, and "lēah", meaning wood or clearing. So, Thorniley can be interpreted to mean 'the clearing or woodland area filled with thorn bushes'. There are many English surnames that have their roots in such geographical or topographical features. Over the centuries, names of many small villages and hamlets may have disappeared from maps and records, giving rise to the term "lost" place names. It is also possible that the name may have been brought to other areas through migration and settlement. Given the extensive history and movement of populations, accurately pinpointing the exact location represented in the name Thorniley can be challenging. This surname exists in various forms such as Thornley, Thornlie, Thorney and others.
Order DNA origin analysisThorniley: Where does the name Thorniley come from?
The surname Thorniley is most predominant in England, Wales, and Australia. It is believed that the family originated in Yorkshire, England and was a landed family in the county before the Norman Conquest.
In England the highest population of the surname is in Lancashire, followed by West Riding of Yorkshire. This distribution suggests the continuity of the Thorniley ancestral home in this region from ancient times.
The Thorniley family is also well established in Australia, where the largest number of people with this surname live in Queensland. Of the Australian total, 6% live in New South Wales, 4% live in Victoria, and 3% live in South Australia.
The surname is also found in the United States, but in a much lesser capacity. It is estimated that just over 1000 people in America bear the Thorniley surname today. According to the US Census Bureau, the states with the highest incidence of the name are Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Today, the Thorniley surname is still used by many families across the English speaking world. It is a testament to their strong family ties and affinity for their ancestral home in Yorkshire. They have certainly made a mark as a distinct surname in history and continue to thrive.
Variations of the surname Thorniley
The surname Thorniley is derived from the Old English Thorn-leah, meaning a "thorny clearing". It is often spelled as Thornly, Thorneyly, Thornleigh, Thornlea, and Thornleah. In some cases the spelling has been modified to Thornley, Thornlee, Torneyly, and Thornily.
The origins of this surname can be traced back to the south-eastern England, particularly in counties like Essex, Kent, and Sussex. Initially, the name was used to distinguish people from separate clearings in a sparsely populated rural area, and over time it became a family name.
The earliest records of the Thorniley name date back to the 11th century in England. In these records the spelling variants of this surname can be found, such as Thornly, Thorneyly, Thornley, Thornlee, Torneyly, and Thornily.
In Scotland, there are many variant spellings such as Thornlie, Thorntie, Torntie, Thurnlie, Thurnlee, and Thurnlie. The variants of this surname are also found in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, and South Africa.
Over the centuries, variants of the Thorniley surname have evolved and spread throughout the world. However, the spelling variants of this surname mostly remain the same. It is interesting to note that while the spelling of the surname may have changed over time, its origin remains the same.
Famous people with the name Thorniley
- Danny Thorniley: English professional footballer.
- David Thorniley: British artist and curator.
- Greg Thorniley: Australian musician.
- Chris Thorniley: former English footballer.
- Graham Thorniley: retired cricketer.
- John Thorniley: former English footballer.
- Josette Thorniley, British extreme athlete and record-holder for running the Bob Graham Round.
- Mark Thorniley: English former footballer.
- Rebecca Thorniley: British actress and singer.
- Ross Thorniley: English footballer.
- Ryan Thorniley: British actor.
- Terry Thorniley: former English footballer.
- Zoe Thorniley: British international badminton player.