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

Thane, 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 Thane surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thane in America

Thane is the 48628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thane surname appeared 434 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 Thane.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thane 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 Thane

The surname Thane has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period of the 5th to 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old English word "thegn," which referred to a class of noblemen or landowners who held significant social and political status. These thanes were individuals who served as advisors to kings, governed territories, and commanded military forces.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Thane can be traced back to the Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document contains numerous references to individuals bearing the title "thegn," indicating the widespread use of the term at the time.

One notable figure bearing the surname Thane was Sir Gilbert de Thane, a 13th-century knight from Lincolnshire. He fought alongside King Edward I during the Wars of Scottish Independence and is mentioned in various historical records from that era.

In the 14th century, the surname Thane appeared in various spellings, such as "Theyn" and "Theyne," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in medieval times. One example is Sir John Theyn, a prominent landowner in Somerset, who was recorded in the Patent Rolls of 1344.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname Thane continued to be associated with landed gentry and nobility. One well-known individual was Sir Richard Thane, a courtier and member of the Privy Council under King Henry VIII. He was born around 1480 and served as a diplomat and ambassador for the English crown.

Another notable figure was Thomas Thane, a 16th-century scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of Eton College from 1572 to 1588. He was highly regarded for his contributions to education and played a role in shaping the curriculum at one of England's most prestigious schools.

The surname Thane has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Thane (Oxfordshire), Thaneham (Sussex), and Thanehurst (Surrey). These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Thane who held land or estates in those areas.

While the surname Thane has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its historical significance remains tied to the Anglo-Saxon period and the social hierarchy of that era, where thanes held a prominent and influential position in society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thane

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

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 Thane 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 Thane 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 Thane was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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