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

Thornsberry, 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 Thornsberry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thornsberry in America

Thornsberry is the 15104th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thornsberry surname appeared 1,953 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Thornsberry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thornsberry 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 Thornsberry

The surname Thornsberry is believed to have originated in England during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "thorn" and "bury," which together mean "a place of thorn bushes." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a thorny area or a settlement surrounded by thorn bushes.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Thornsberry dates back to the 14th century. It appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England. This early reference provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Thornsbury" or "Thornsbery," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions at the time. These variations were common before the standardization of English spelling.

Several notable individuals with the surname Thornsberry have been recorded throughout history. One such person was John Thornsberry, a landowner and farmer who lived in Shropshire, England, in the late 16th century (c. 1560-1625).

Another notable figure was William Thornsberry, a soldier who fought in the English Civil War during the mid-17th century (c. 1620-1680). He is mentioned in historical records for his bravery in battle and his loyalty to the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, a man named Thomas Thornsberry (1725-1798) gained some recognition as a skilled blacksmith and metalworker in the village of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. His work was highly regarded for its quality and craftsmanship.

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Thornsberry (1810-1892) was a prominent figure in the early women's suffrage movement in England. She advocated for women's rights and was a vocal supporter of educational opportunities for girls and women.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Edward Thornsberry (1885-1962) was a respected academic and historian who specialized in medieval English literature. He authored several books and articles on the subject and taught at Oxford University for many years.

While the surname Thornsberry may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely referred to a person living in or near a thorny area or settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thornsberry

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

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

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

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