This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Thistle family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Thistle Family History

Thistle Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): apparently from Middle English thistel ‘thistle’ (Old English thistel) either as a nickname or as a topographic name for someone who lived in a place overgrown with thistles.

In some cases an Americanized form of Norwegian Tistel: habitational name from the farm Tistel in Sogn same origin as 1 above.

Possibly also an Americanized form of German Distel.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Thistle family from?

You can see how Thistle families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thistle family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Thistle families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 55 Thistle families living in Norfolk. This was about 25% of all the recorded Thistle's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Thistle families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thistle surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Thistle ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Thistle. 50% of Thistle men worked as a Builders Labourer and 94% of Thistle women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Thistle were Blacksmith and None.

View Census Data for Thistle | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    50%
  • Blacksmith
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    94%
  • None
    7%

What Thistle family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Thistle

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Thistle. 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 Thistle immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Thistle. For the veterans among your Thistle ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Thistle military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thistle family history

Discover More

What is the average Thistle lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Thistle life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Thistle in 1943 was 36, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thistle

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Thistle 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Thistle family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial