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

Thornsbury, 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 Thornsbury surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thornsbury in America

Thornsbury is the 30538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thornsbury surname appeared 764 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 Thornsbury.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thornsbury 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 Thornsbury

The surname Thornsbury is of English origin, emerging in the medieval era around the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the place name "Thornbury" found in various regions across England, particularly in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "thorn" and "burgh," which together mean "the settlement or fortified place amid the thorns." This suggests that the name may have originated from a location that was once surrounded by thorny bushes or thickets, serving as a defensive barrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Thornsbury can be found in the Gloucestershire Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it appears as "Thornebur." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the Thornsbury family held lands in the county of Herefordshire, as evidenced by records from the Visitation of Herefordshire in 1569, which mentions John Thornsbury as a landowner.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Thornsbury include Sir Thomas Thornsbury (c. 1520-1588), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was William Thornsbury (1688-1753), a renowned architect from Gloucestershire who is credited with designing several churches and manor houses in the region.

In the literary realm, Elizabeth Thornsbury (1795-1875) was a celebrated poet and author from Worcestershire, known for her works celebrating the beauty of the English countryside.

The Thornsbury name also appears in historical records from Scotland, with Robert Thornsbury (1612-1682) being a prominent merchant and landowner in Edinburgh during the 17th century.

Lastly, Sir Henry Thornsbury (1772-1842), a distinguished military officer, served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath for his exemplary service.

Thornsbury is a surname deeply rooted in English history, with its origins linked to the medieval era and the geographical features of various regions across the country. Its presence in historical records and the achievements of notable individuals bearing this name contribute to its rich cultural legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thornsbury

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

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

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

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