Thirkell Family History

Metathesized variant of Threlkeld. Sir Lancelot Thirkel is named as the late lord of Thrikeld (Threlkeld Cumb) 1505-15 in TNA. Compare Thomas Thirkell 1624, Thomasine Threlkeld 1673 in IGI (Brancepeth Durham); John Thirkeld 1741, Dorothy Threlkeld 1755 in IGI (Morpeth Northumb); John Threlkeld 1776, James Thirkell 1822 in IGI (Kirkby Fleetham NR Yorks).

Some of the early bearers listed below could, however, belong with (2). The two surnames may have co-existed in ER Yorks and been confused with each other after Sir Lancelot Threlkelde alias Thirkel acquired property in Londesbrough in about 147 from the Middle English personal name T(h)urkill, T(h)urkild, T(h)irkill (Old Scandinavian Þorkell, Old Danish Thorkil, Thurkil, a contracted form of Þorketill from the god's name Þórr ‘Thor’ + ketill ‘kettle, cauldron’).

Compare Thirkettle. Spellings with initial T- instead of Th- reflect Anglo-Norman French pronunciation. It is uncertain that the medieval NR Yorks and ER Yorks surname survived into the modern period.

If so, it will have been confused with the name in (2).