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

Thoby, 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 Thoby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thoby in America

Thoby is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thoby surname appeared 104 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 Thoby.

The history of the last name Thoby

The surname Thoby is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has been lost to history. However, some scholars suggest that it may be linked to the Old English word "thofe," which means a clump or tuft of grass or vegetation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thoby can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1202, where it appears as "Toby." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the 13th century, the name is recorded in various forms, such as "Tobi," "Thobey," and "Thobie," in historical records from counties like Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire. This indicates that the name was relatively widespread across southern and central England during the Middle Ages.

One notable individual bearing the Thoby surname was John Thoby, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He is mentioned in several legal documents and records from that era, including the Calender of Plea and Memoranda Rolls of the City of London from 1437.

Another historical figure of note was Sir Roger Thoby, a landowner and Member of Parliament for Grantham in Lincolnshire during the late 16th century. He was born around 1540 and played a significant role in local affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Thoby surname appears in various parish registers and church records, particularly in the counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. One such entry includes the marriage of Richard Thoby and Elizabeth Wilkins in the parish of Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, in 1635.

During the English Civil War period, a man named Thomas Thoby is recorded as serving in the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645, where he is mentioned in contemporary accounts and military records.

Another notable individual was John Thoby, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Buckinghamshire, who lived during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is mentioned in various legal documents and property transactions from that time, indicating his prominent social status and influence in the local community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thoby

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

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 Thoby 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.

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

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

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