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 Thorstensen family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Thorstensen Family History

Thorstensen Surname Meaning

Norwegian and Danish: patronymic from the personal name Thorsten, a variant of Thorstein.

Old Norse Thórsteinn is composed of the name of the god Thórr (see Thor) + steinn ‘stone, rock’.

Hence, it can mean ‘altar of Thor’ or perhaps ‘hammer of Thor’.

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 Thorstensen family from?

You can see how Thorstensen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thorstensen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Thorstensen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Thorstensen family living in Lancashire. This was 100% of all the recorded Thorstensen's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Thorstensen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thorstensen 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 Thorstensen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Fisherman and Clerical were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Thorstensen. 31% of Thorstensen men worked as a Fisherman and 100% of Thorstensen women worked as a Clerical.

View Census Data for Thorstensen | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Fisherman
    31%
  • Laborer
    24%
  • Painter
    16%
  • Carpenter
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerical
    100%

What Thorstensen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Thorstensen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Thorstensen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Thorstensen

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 341 military records available for the last name Thorstensen. For the veterans among your Thorstensen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Thorstensen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thorstensen family history

Discover More

What is the average Thorstensen lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Thorstensen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Thorstensen in 1947 was 45, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thorstensen

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

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