Surname Thorning - Meaning and Origin

Thorning: What does the surname Thorning mean?

The last name Thorning is of Scandinavian origin and is predominantly found in Denmark. It is a combination of two elements: “Thor,” referring to the Norse god of thunder, and "-ing," a patronymic indicator meaning "descendant of" or "belonging to." Therefore, Thorning might be interpreted as "descendant or follower of Thor" or "belonging to Thor." It's also possible that it refers to a geographical location, as Thorning is also the name of a town in Denmark. Remember that origins and meanings of surnames can be speculative and can vary based on geographical locations and shifts in language over time.

Thorning: Where does the name Thorning come from?

The last name Thorning is most commonly found in Denmark today, specifically in the northwestern region of the country. Thorning was historically a patronymic name meaning "son of Thor", often given to the descendants of Scandinavian Viking warriors. Historically, the Thorning family has been associated with prominent Danes such as the physicist Christian Henrik Mynster Thorning, one of the earliest physicists to specialize in condensed matter; Villersløse Antoinette Thorning, a noted Danish horticulturist; and the brothers Thorning-Jensen, both renowned tradesmen who were active in Vordingborg during the mid and late nineteenth century. Over time, the name Thorning has come to be associated with a wide range of professions and businesses, from tailors to trading companies.

Today, the Thorning family is still found in Denmark, particularly in the Jutland region. It is estimated that around 10% of people in Denmark carry the Thorning surname, reflecting its success over the centuries. Many Thornings throughout the country still work in trades and businesses that serve their local communities, while others are in academia, medicine, and other more modern fields. The Thorning family is particularly prominent in the regions of Midtjylland and Region Nordjylland, exemplifying the importance of this surname to Danish history and culture.

Variations of the surname Thorning

The surname Thorning is a patronymic surname, a name derived from the father’s first name. This surname is most likely derived from the Old Norse personal name, Þórr, which means ‘thunder’. Historically, this surname was common in parts of Scandinavia.

People with this surname can find variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin associated with the surname Thorning. Some of these variants are Thurning, Thoerning, Thurnan, and Thoerneman. Spellings of Thorning include Tharning, Thurning, and Thoerning.

Surnames of the same origin associated with Thorning include Thormen, Thorrmann, Thormann, and Thormonse. Other Scandinavian surnames include Thorudsen, Thormondsen, Thorum, and Thormodsen. Other northern German variants can also be found, such as Dornig, Derning, and Thurning.

Still additional variants can be found all across Europe. Germans might have the surnames Thurnhorst, Döring, and Döhrn. Dutch and Belgian variants are Doren, Dohrmann, and Dorenbos. French variants often contain double consonants to reflect the way it is pronounced in French, and many of these variants appear to be derived from the French word 'thorigner', which refers to a thunderbolt.

In conclusion, the surname Thorning has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin associated with it. Depending on the origin of the person or family bearing the surname Thorning, any of these variants might be found.

Famous people with the name Thorning

• Helle Thorning-Schmidt: Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a former Danish Prime Minister and the leader of the Danish Social Democrats from 2005 to 2015. She was the first female prime minister of Denmark and the second female leader of the Social Democrats.
• Janus Thorning: Janus Thorning is a former Danish politician and leader of the Danish Conservative People's Party from 2009 to 2010.
• Christian Thorning: Christian Thorning is a Danish actor and musician who has appeared in over forty films and television shows from the late 1980s to the present.
• Henrik Thorning: Henrik Thorning is a retired Danish economist and professor, author of several books on economics.
• Mogens Thorning: Mogens Thorning is a Danish handball player who was first-team goalkeeper for the Danish national team and played in the Danish professional handball league.
• Lars Thorning: Lars Thorning is a Danish artist known for creating detailed architectural drawings, portraits, landscapes and still lifes with ink, pencil and paint.
• Michael Thorning: Michael Thorning is a Danish entrepreneur and politician, founder of the venture investing firm TRIO and co-founder of the Danish investment fund Disruption Investment.
• Eva Thorning: Eva Thorning is a Danish artist and sculptor known for her abstract work in steel, bronze and stone.
• Cathrine Thorning: Cathrine Thorning is a Danish actress known for appearing in films such as Klassefesten 3: Dåben and Rejsen til Saturn.
• Peter Thorning: Peter Thorning is a Danish architect, designer and academic. He is an adjunct professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and has designed several public buildings in Denmark.

Other surnames

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