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 Thorning family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Thorning Family History

Thorning Surname Meaning

English:: (Devon): topographic name from Middle English thorning ‘dweller by a thorn bush’ from Middle English thorn + -ing ‘man’, a type of locative formation peculiar to Devon.

Perhaps also a habitational name from either of two places called Thurning (in Northamptonshire and Norfolk) probably derived from Old English thorn ‘thorn tree’ + the group name suffix -ingas.

Alternatively, it could originate from thorning ‘thorny place’.

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 Thorning family from?

You can see how Thorning families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thorning family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Thorning families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 93 Thorning families living in Devon. This was about 54% of all the recorded Thorning's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Thorning families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thorning 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 Thorning ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Painter decorator and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Thorning. 50% of Thorning men worked as a Painter decorator and 86% of Thorning women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Thorning were Timber Merchant and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Thorning | 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

  • Painter decorator
    50%
  • Timber Merchant
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Waitress (cafe)
    4%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Thorning family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Thorning. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Thorning census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Thorning

Passenger Lists

There are 450 immigration records available for the last name Thorning. 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 Thorning immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 407 military records available for the last name Thorning. For the veterans among your Thorning ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Thorning military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thorning family history

Discover More

What is the average Thorning lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Thorning life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Thorning in 1957 was 41, and 58 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thorning

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Thorning 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 Thorning family tree

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