Thursa
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly Germanic, meaning "female giant or demon".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Thursa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Thursa today is around 86 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thursa births was 1906 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thursa. 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 Thursa is about 86 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thursas were born before 1950.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Thursa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1906
10 babies that year
Average age
86
years old
1962 SSA rank
#7,496
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Thursa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thursa from the 1880s through to the 1960s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 48 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thursa 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 Thursa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Thursa
The name Thursa finds its origins in ancient Germanic languages, with roots that can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "þursu," meaning "giant" or "ogre." This name likely originated during the Migration Period of the early Middle Ages, when various Germanic tribes were on the move across Europe.
In Norse mythology, the word "þursar" was used to refer to a race of giants or trolls who were believed to inhabit the wilderness and mountains. The name Thursa may have been given to individuals who were perceived as having a powerful or imposing presence, akin to these mythological creatures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thursa appears in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of medieval narratives that recount the adventures and exploits of Viking-era Icelanders. In the Saga of Grettir the Strong, a character named Thursa is mentioned as a fearsome outlaw who terrorized the countryside.
Throughout history, the name Thursa has been relatively uncommon, but a few notable individuals have borne this moniker. One example is Thursa of Ravenna, a 6th-century Christian martyr who was put to death for her faith during the reign of the Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great.
In the 9th century, a Viking chieftain named Thursa Longbeard is said to have led a band of Norse raiders in numerous raids along the coasts of France and England. His exploits were chronicled in the Annals of St. Bertin, a medieval historical record.
During the High Middle Ages, a German noblewoman named Thursa von Schwarzenberg (1120-1187) gained renown for her philanthropic work, founding several monasteries and hospitals in what is now southern Germany.
In more recent times, Thursa Whitehill (1862-1935) was an American artist and illustrator known for her intricate woodcut prints depicting scenes from nature and folklore.
Finally, Thursa Barker (1901-1989) was a British actress who appeared in numerous stage productions and films throughout the 20th century, including a supporting role in the 1960 adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel "The Time Machine."
People
Thursa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thursa 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
Thursa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thursa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thursa 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Thursa a common name?
We classify Thursa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 150 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thursa most popular?
The single biggest year for Thursa was 1906, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thursa is about 86 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 Thursa in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Thursa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thursa in the SSA data are female. 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 Thursa still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Thursa 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 Thursa 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 people have Thursa as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Thursa on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.