Surname Thurston - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing Back the Roots: An Insight into the Thurston Surname via iGENEA DNA Test
The results of my iGENEA DNA test have reveled unexpected findings about my surname, Thurston. The data suggests that I have strong Viking lineage, dating back to the eighth to 11th centuries during the Viking Age, originating from Scandinavia. The results additionally indicate a link between my Thurston ancestors and the Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain, as well as Celtic roots from my maternal lineage.
L. Thurston
read moreThurston: What does the surname Thurston mean?
The surname Thurston is of Old Norse origin, derived from the personal name "Thorsteinn." This name is a composite of two elements: "Thor," the name of the Norse god of thunder, and "steinn," meaning "stone" or "rock." Thus, the name roughly translates to "Thor's stone" or "Thor's rock." Having originated from Scandinavia, it got introduced to England by the Vikings during their invasions and settlements from the 8th to the 11th century. It became a hereditary surname passed down to successive generations. However, it is important to note that the surname's interpretations could vary depending on regional and historical usage. It's also found in variants such as Thurstan, Thorstein, and Thurstone. Notable people with the surname Thurston include American magician Howard Thurston and Australian rugby player Johnathan Thurston.
Order DNA origin analysisThurston: Where does the name Thurston come from?
The last name Thurston is commonly found throughout the United States today. According to the 2018 US Census, the surname Thurston was ranked as number 7091 out of 88,799 surnames. The top three states for Thurston surnames are Massachusetts, New York, and California.
In Massachusetts, the last name Thurston is most prevalent in the counties of Suffolk and Essex. Approximately 1 in every 2,609 people has the Thurston name in the state. In New York, the county with the highest concentration of Thurston’s is Bronx, where 1 in every 2,636 people has the name. California yields the highest population of Thurston’s in the county of Los Angeles—1 in every 4,052 people carries this surname.
In addition to the US, the surname Thurston is also found in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In Canada, the provinces with the highest number of people bearing the name are Ontario and British Columbia. In the UK, the highest number of Thurston’s can be found in the counties of Kent and Surrey. In Australia, the state of Victoria had the highest population of Thurston’s in 2011.
Overall, the last name Thurston is a relatively common surname in the United States and has a presence in countries across the globe.
Variations of the surname Thurston
The surname Thurston is derived from the Old English personal name which was formed from the elements 'Þur', meaning 'thorn', and 'sǣ' meaning 'sea'. It has a long history as a surname, having been recorded in England since at least the 12th century. Variations of and spellings of this surname include Thirsk, Thrush, Thursh, Thorson, Thursden, and Thurton.
In Scotland, the variations and spellings have become a bit different due to the different accents. Here, the variations and spellings of this surname include Thorston, Thorruson, Thorestienne, Thoorson, Thorrisson, Thorison, Thorrison, and Thorsone. All of these names are derived from the same Old English name, and all mean the same thing: to rise from the sea.
There are also some other variations of the surname that have come from different countries, such as Thurston in Ireland, Thurzo in Hungary, Turškić and Tušek in Croatia, and Turŝa in Ukraine. These surnames all share the same origin, but they have slightly different spellings, due to the different languages used in those countries.
Overall, the surname Thurston has a long history and numerous different variations. It is a surname that has been around for centuries and has taken on many different formats due to the different language and dialects spoken across different countries.
Famous people with the name Thurston
- Howard Thurston: Howard Thurston was an American magician who was active during the Golden Age of Magic in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was one of the most famous magicians of his time and performed his grand illusion shows in cities all across America.
- Gavin Thurston: Gavin Thurston is an English photographer who has become famous for his photographs of the natural world featured in books, magazines, television and exhibitions. He has also worked extensively as a cinematographer for many BBC Natural History Unit productions.
- Chuck Thurston: Chuck Thurston is a retired American professional basketball player who played for nine different NBA teams from 1976 to 1987. He was a highly talented and versatile player who contributed significantly to each team he played for.
- Melvin Thurston: Melvin Thurston was an American poet and literary critic who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He published several volumes of poetry and was well known for his tireless work as a critic.
- David Thurston: David Thurston is an award-winning American playwright and screenwriter. He has written the off-Broadway shows "Big Guns" and "Cajun La La" as well as the screenplay adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby".
- Jared Thurston: Jared Thurston is an American country music singer-songwriter who has been active since 2011. His debut album, "Just a Simple Man", was released in 2014 and has charted four singles in the Top 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
- Big Boi: Born Antwan Andre Patton, Big Boi is an American rapper, songwriter and producer. He is best known as one half of the hip-hop duo Outkast and has had several successful solo albums and collaborations. Big Boi's mother's maiden name is Thurston.