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

Thurgood, 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 Thurgood surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thurgood in America

Thurgood is the 25701st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thurgood surname appeared 959 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 Thurgood.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thurgood 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 Thurgood

The surname THURGOOD is of English origin, derived from a medieval place name meaning "the good thorpe" or "the good village." It is believed to have originated in the county of Norfolk, England, during the early Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname THURGOOD can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record compiled in 1273 during the reign of King Edward I. The name is listed as "Thurghod," which was likely an early spelling variation.

As the surname evolved over time, it took on various spellings, including Thurgoode, Thurgood, and Thurgude. These variations can be found in various historical records, such as parish registers, tax rolls, and court documents from the 14th to 17th centuries.

In the late 16th century, the THURGOOD surname appeared in the records of the Norfolk Visitation, a survey of noble and gentry families conducted by the College of Arms. This suggests that some families bearing the name had achieved a certain level of social standing by that time.

One notable individual with the surname THURGOOD was Robert Thurgood (c. 1623-1663), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Trent, Somerset. He published several theological works, including "A Vindication of the Protestant Doctrine of Justification" in 1658.

Another figure of historical significance was Benjamin Thurgood (1732-1795), an English Particular Baptist minister and theologian from Bristol. He was a prominent figure in the Baptist community of his time and authored several influential works on Baptist doctrine and church governance.

In the 19th century, the THURGOOD surname gained prominence with the birth of Amos Thurgood (1810-1888), a successful businessman and industrialist from Gloucestershire, England. He founded the Thurgood Ironworks, which played a significant role in the region's industrial development during the Victorian era.

Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname THURGOOD was Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Although not directly related to the English surname, his name has become synonymous with the fight for civil rights and racial equality in American history.

While these are just a few examples, the surname THURGOOD has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the English countryside and evolving to become a name associated with various notable figures across different fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thurgood

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

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

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

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