Thornton is an English given name derived from the Old English words "thorn" meaning thorn bush or bramble, and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement. It likely originated as a place name referring to a village or town surrounded by thorny bushes or brambles.

The name can be traced back to the 11th century in England, where variations like Thorneton and Thornton were used as surnames for people living in areas with this name. The earliest recorded use of Thornton as a first name dates back to the 13th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Thornton de Thornton, an English knight who lived in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from that time period, including the Pipe Rolls of 1295.

In the 15th century, Thornton Romvile was a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry class. He owned estates in Gloucestershire and is mentioned in various legal documents and records from the reign of King Henry VI.

During the English Renaissance, Thornton Leigh was a notable playwright and author who lived from around 1520 to 1576. He is best known for his plays "The Tragedy of Guistard and Sismond" and "The Honest Whore".

Sir Thornton Watlass was a member of the English Parliament in the 17th century, representing the county of Yorkshire from 1640 to 1653. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 19th century, Thornton Wilder was an American author and playwright who lived from 1897 to 1975. He is best known for his novels "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" and "Theophilus North", as well as the play "Our Town", for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1938.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the given name Thornton, highlighting its long-standing use and significance in various cultures and time periods.