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Thorton Family History

Thorton Surname Meaning

English: probably a shortened form of Thornton or a habitational name from Thorton in Marnhull Dorset which has the same origin.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Thorton family from?

You can see how Thorton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thorton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Thorton families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 73 Thorton families living in Yorkshire. This was about 23% of all the recorded Thorton's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Thorton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thorton 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 Thorton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Thorton. 50% of Thorton men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Thorton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Thorton were Carpenter joiner and Cotton Weaver.

View Census Data for Thorton | 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

  • General Labourer
    50%
  • Bricklayer
    25%
  • Carpenter joiner
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%

What Thorton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 19,000 census records available for the last name Thorton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Thorton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Thorton

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Thorton. 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 Thorton immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Thorton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thorton family history

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What is the average Thorton lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Thorton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Thorton in 1955 was 54, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thorton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Thorton 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.

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