Thurnell
A rare English surname derived from a place name.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Thurnell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Thurnell today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thurnell births was 1950 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thurnell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Thurnell is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thurnells were born before 1960.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Thurnell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1950
6 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1950 SSA rank
#3,646
Tracked since 1950
Popularity
Thurnell: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Thurnell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Thurnell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Geography
Where Thurnells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Thurnell
The given name Thurnell finds its origins in Old English, derived from the combination of the words "thunor" meaning thunder and "nell" which was a diminutive suffix often used to denote endearment or affection. This suggests that the name Thurnell was initially bestowed upon individuals born during thunderstorms or those with a boisterous and thunderous personality.
Linguistic evidence indicates that the name Thurnell emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th century. It was predominantly used in the regions of Wessex and Mercia, where Old English dialects were widely spoken. Variations in spelling, such as Thornell and Thurnel, were common due to the lack of standardized orthography at the time.
While no definitive records exist of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, a few notable historical figures have borne the name Thurnell. One of the earliest recorded instances is Sir Thurnell de Montfort, a 13th-century English knight who fought alongside Simon de Montfort during the Second Barons' War against King Henry III (1265-1267).
Another prominent individual was Thurnell Whitaker (1670-1743), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire. His literary work, "A Treatise on the Divine Attributes," published in 1718, garnered significant attention during his lifetime.
In the 19th century, Thurnell Woolrich (1818-1899) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable structures, including the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley, Hampshire, and St. George's Church in Ramsgate, Kent.
Thurnell Swinnerton (1872-1958), a British artist and illustrator, gained recognition for his oil paintings and watercolors depicting rural landscapes and scenes from English countryside life.
Lastly, Thurnell Read (1901-1982), an Australian cricketer, represented the national team in five Test matches between 1924 and 1926, earning acclaim for his skilled batting and fielding abilities.
These examples showcase the enduring presence of the name Thurnell across various fields and historical periods, reflecting its long-standing cultural significance within the English-speaking world.
People
Thurnell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thurnell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Thurnell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thurnell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thurnell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Thurnell a common name?
We classify Thurnell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thurnell most popular?
The single biggest year for Thurnell was 1950, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thurnell is about 76 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Thurnell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Thurnell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thurnell in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Thurnell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Thurnell in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Thurnell can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Thurnell?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.