Find out how popular the last name Thain is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Thain.

Thain, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Thain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thain in America

Thain is the 40856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thain surname appeared 534 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Thain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thain to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Thain

The surname THAIN has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "tànanach," which means "governor" or "ruler." This suggests that the name may have initially been borne by those holding positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a "William Thane" is mentioned in an entry from the year 1329. This indicates that the surname was already in use by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including "Thane," "Thain," and "Thaine." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, the name THAIN gained prominence through its association with the Thanes of Cawdor, a powerful noble family in the Scottish Highlands. The Thanes of Cawdor held significant influence and played a notable role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname THAIN was William Thain (1589-1656), a Scottish minister and writer who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1648. His works, including sermons and theological treatises, were widely published and influential in his time.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Thain (1720-1801), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1775 to 1776. He was also appointed as a Lord of Session, taking the judicial title Lord Woodhouselee.

In the literary realm, John Thain (1748-1816) was a Scottish poet and writer who gained recognition for his works celebrating rural life and nature. His collection of poems, "The Blind Bard's Garland," published in 1818, received critical acclaim.

The name THAIN has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Thainstone, a village in Aberdeenshire, and Thaneston, a former parish in Caithness. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the historical presence of individuals bearing the name in those regions.

Throughout history, the surname THAIN has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including clergymen, lawyers, judges, and writers. While not as widely documented as some other Scottish surnames, it has left its mark on the historical records and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of Scottish heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thain

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Thain.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Thain was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Thain has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Thain was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Thain, please contact us.

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