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

Thou, 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 Thou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thou in America

Thou is the 81181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thou surname appeared 233 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 Thou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thou 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 Thou

The surname "THOU" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the county of Lincolnshire. It is likely derived from the Old English word "thoh," which means a small hill or mound, suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived near or on a small hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tou" or "Thoue." This historic document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and their variations during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled as "Thoue" or "Thowe," reflecting the evolving nature of English spelling and pronunciation. During this time, the name was predominantly concentrated in the villages and townships of Lincolnshire, such as Thornton le Moor, where it is believed to have originated from a local place name.

One notable figure bearing the surname "THOU" was Sir John Thoue, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in various historical records and charters of the time, further solidifying the presence of the name in the region.

In the 14th century, the spelling "Thou" became more widespread, and the surname began to appear in other parts of England, particularly in the neighboring counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. This expansion could be attributed to the movement of people during that period, as well as the influence of different local dialects on the pronunciation and spelling of the name.

Another prominent individual with the surname "THOU" was William Thou, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Lincoln during the 15th century. He was known for his successful trade ventures and his involvement in local affairs, leaving a lasting impact on the region's economy and community.

As time progressed, the surname "THOU" continued to evolve and spread throughout England, with various spellings such as "Thow," "Thowe," and "Thowes" appearing in historical records. Notably, in the 16th century, a family named Thow resided in the village of Waddington, Lincolnshire, where they were respected members of the local gentry.

During the 17th century, the spelling "THOU" became more standardized, and the name was documented in various parish records and genealogical records across England. One notable figure from this period was Robert Thou, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the late 17th century and made significant contributions to the field of religious studies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thou

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

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

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

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