Find out how popular the last name Thorsness is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Thorsness.
A Scandinavian surname derived from a geographic location or a reference to the Norse god Thor.
Thorsness, 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 Thorsness surname is from the 2010 census data.
Thorsness is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Thorsness surname appeared 167 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 Thorsness.
We can also compare 2010 data for Thorsness 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 106570 | 97848 | 8.53% |
| Count | 167 | 172 | -2.95% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.00% |
The surname THORSNESS has its origins in Scandinavia, likely derived from the Old Norse words "Thor" and "nes," meaning "Thor's headland" or "Thor's promontory." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name or geographic feature associated with the Norse god Thor.
During the Viking Age, many Scandinavian settlers and raiders ventured to various parts of Europe, including the British Isles, and it is possible that the name THORSNESS was brought to these regions by individuals of Norse descent. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, with variations such as Thornesne and Thornesse appearing in historical documents.
One notable early record of the name THORSNESS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This entry provides evidence of the name's presence in England during the 11th century.
In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Thorbjorn Thorsness was a Norwegian chieftain and landowner who played a significant role in the consolidation of power in the region of Trøndelag, Norway. His descendants carried on the Thorsness name, establishing it as a prominent lineage in Scandinavian history.
During the 16th century, a renowned sailor and explorer named Nils Thorsness (1543-1617) gained fame for his voyages to the Arctic regions and his contributions to cartography and navigation. His detailed accounts of the northern seas and lands were highly influential in his time.
In the 18th century, a notable Swedish scholar and linguist named Sven Thorsness (1702-1778) made significant contributions to the study of Scandinavian languages and folklore. His extensive research and publications helped preserve and document the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Another prominent figure bearing the THORSNESS name was the Norwegian artist and illustrator, Ingrid Thorsness (1845-1912), who gained recognition for her vibrant depictions of Norwegian landscapes and rural life. Her works played a crucial role in promoting and preserving the artistic traditions of her homeland.
While the THORSNESS surname has its roots in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, the name's connection to its Norse origins and the significance of the Thor deity in ancient mythology remain a fascinating part of its history and cultural legacy.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Thorsness.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Thorsness was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 92.81% | 155 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 2.99% | 5 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Thorsness has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.81% | 94.77% | -2.09% |
| Black | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 2.99% | 2.91% | 2.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Thorsness was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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