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Thistlethwaite Family History

Thistlethwaite Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from Thistlewood in Castle Sowerby (Cumbria) or perhaps a lost placename Thistelthuait in Lancaster parish (Lancashire).

The placenames derive from Old English thistel ‘thistle’ + Old Norse thveit ‘clearing meadow’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Thistlethwaite family from?

You can see how Thistlethwaite families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thistlethwaite family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Thistlethwaite families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 147 Thistlethwaite families living in Lancashire. This was about 49% of all the recorded Thistlethwaite's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Thistlethwaite families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thistlethwaite surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Thistlethwaite ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cotton Weaver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Thistlethwaite. 11% of Thistlethwaite men worked as a Cotton Weaver and 79% of Thistlethwaite women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Thistlethwaite were Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Thistlethwaite | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Cotton Weaver
    11%
  • Dairy Farmer
    9%
  • Incapacitated
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Cotton Weaver
    6%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Thistlethwaite family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Thistlethwaite. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Thistlethwaite census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Thistlethwaite

Passenger Lists

There are 725 immigration records available for the last name Thistlethwaite. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Thistlethwaite immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 730 military records available for the last name Thistlethwaite. For the veterans among your Thistlethwaite ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Thistlethwaite military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thistlethwaite family history

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What is the average Thistlethwaite lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Thistlethwaite ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thistlethwaite

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