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

Thrall, 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 Thrall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thrall in America

Thrall is the 16856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thrall surname appeared 1,693 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 Thrall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thrall 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 Thrall

The surname Thrall has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "thræl," which means "slave" or "bondsman." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who was in a state of servitude or bondage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thrall can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Thral," "Threll," and "Thrael."

During the Middle Ages, the name Thrall was most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where families bearing this surname were likely employed as agricultural laborers or servants on large estates. However, as social mobility increased, some Thralls may have gained their freedom and established themselves as freeholders or tradesmen.

Notably, one of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Thrall, who lived in the 14th century and served as a chaplain in the village of Harpole, Northamptonshire. Another early reference comes from the 15th century, when a certain William Thrall was mentioned in the records of the city of Norwich.

In the 16th century, the surname Thrall was also associated with several place names, such as Thrall Green in Hertfordshire and Thrall's End in Essex. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Thrall surname who had settled in those areas.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Thrall was Sir Walter Thrall (1579-1663), an English merchant and philanthropist who established several charitable foundations in London. Another notable Thrall was William Thrall (1608-1679), a Puritan settler who immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony and became a founding member of the town of Windsor, Connecticut.

Other prominent individuals bearing the surname Thrall include:

1. Benjamin Thrall (1773-1847), an American manufacturer and inventor from Connecticut.
2. Homer Thrall (1819-1894), an American lawyer and politician who served as a judge in New York.
3. Solon Thrall (1830-1900), an American physician and author known for his work on homeopathic medicine.
4. Elizabeth Thrall (1828-1904), an American educator and advocate for women's rights.
5. Walter Thrall (1892-1963), an American architect known for his work on several buildings in New York City.

Overall, the surname Thrall has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the diverse experiences of those who have borne this name, from humble beginnings as bondsmen to prominent figures in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thrall

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

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

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

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