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

Thornburgh, 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 Thornburgh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thornburgh in America

Thornburgh is the 21830th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thornburgh surname appeared 1,191 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 Thornburgh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thornburgh 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 Thornburgh

The surname Thornburgh is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, particularly in the northern regions of England. This surname is thought to be derived from the Old English words "thorn" and "burgh," which collectively mean "the fortified place with thorn bushes."

The earliest known record of the name Thornburgh can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this document, the name appears as "Torneberia," which is believed to be an early spelling variation.

During the 13th century, the surname Thornburgh was found in various regions of northern England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It is thought that the name may have originated from a specific place name or settlement, as was common during that era.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Thornburgh was Sir Robert Thornburgh, a prominent knight who lived in the late 14th century. He was known for his involvement in the Hundred Years' War and played a crucial role in several battles against the French forces.

In the 16th century, the Thornburgh family established themselves as landowners and influential figures in the county of Yorkshire. Notable members of this family include Sir William Thornburgh (1550-1623), a politician and Member of Parliament, and his son, Sir John Thornburgh (1583-1668), who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

Another famous bearer of the surname Thornburgh was Sir Edward Thornburgh (1611-1669), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Charles II. He was known for his impartial and fair rulings, and his legal expertise was highly respected.

During the 18th century, the Thornburgh family continued to maintain their prominence in various fields, including politics, law, and the military. One notable figure from this period was Sir Thomas Thornburgh (1723-1789), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and held the rank of Lieutenant-General.

The 19th century saw the migration of many Thornburgh families to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable individual from this era was James Thornburgh (1836-1912), an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thornburgh

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

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

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

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