Thornton

Thornton
This interesting surname is of Olde English and occasionally Scottish, pre 7th century origins. It is locational and northern, being from any of the several places called Thornton in counties of Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, or from the lands of Thornton in the Mearns, Scotland. Wherever found the name derives from the words "thorn" meaning a thorn bush or hedge, and "tun", an enclosure or settlement. In this case the word "thorn" is believed to have defensive implications, thorn hedges being deliberately grown around fortified positions both to keep would be raiders out, and the owners cattle in. Locational names were frequently given to the local lord of the manor, as in the first recording below, but more usually were "from" names. That is to say names given to people after they left their original homes, to move elsewhere. Early interesting recordings suggest that the name was spelt Thorntowne in Scotland as late as the year 1609, and that a number of Scottish merchants of the name settled in the state of Prussia, the spelling being recorded there as Dornthon in 1644. Other recordings include Henry Thornton in the Freemans rolls of the city of Canterbury. Kent, in 1362, whilst three centuries later in April 1635, Walter Thornton and his wife, Joanna, left the port of London, England, on the ship "Suzan and Ellin" bound the colony of Virginia. They were amonst the first to settle in the new colony. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Beatrice de Thornton. This was dated 1202, in the "Fine Court Rolls" of the county of Yorkshire, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Thornton — ist der Name folgender Orte: in Großbritannien: Thornton (Angus) Thornton (Buckinghamshire) Thornton (Fife) Thornton (Lancashire) Thornton (Leicestershire) Thornton (Lincolnshire) Thornton (Merseyside) Thornton (Middlesbrough) Thornton… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thornton — can refer to:PlacesAustralia*Thornton, New South Wales *Thornton, Victoriaouth Africa*Thornton, Cape TownUnited Kingdom*Thornton, Angus *Thornton, Buckinghamshire *Thornton, East Riding of Yorkshire *Thornton, Fife *Thornton, Lancashire *Thornton …   Wikipedia

  • Thornton — Thornton, AR U.S. city in Arkansas Population (2000): 517 Housing Units (2000): 242 Land area (2000): 1.911972 sq. miles (4.951985 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.017552 sq. miles (0.045460 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.929524 sq. miles (4.997445 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Thornton — hace referencia a: Robert John Thornton, botánico inglés. Big Mama Thornton, cantante estadounidense. Marvis Thornton, baloncestista estadounidense. Thornton Wilder, dramaturgo estadounidense. Melody Thornton, cantante estadounidense. Alejandro… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Thornton, AR — U.S. city in Arkansas Population (2000): 517 Housing Units (2000): 242 Land area (2000): 1.911972 sq. miles (4.951985 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.017552 sq. miles (0.045460 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.929524 sq. miles (4.997445 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Thornton, CO — U.S. city in Colorado Population (2000): 82384 Housing Units (2000): 29573 Land area (2000): 26.863620 sq. miles (69.576453 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.335619 sq. miles (0.869249 sq. km) Total area (2000): 27.199239 sq. miles (70.445702 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Thornton, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 422 Housing Units (2000): 193 Land area (2000): 1.246453 sq. miles (3.228298 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.246453 sq. miles (3.228298 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Thornton, IL — U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 2582 Housing Units (2000): 1035 Land area (2000): 2.334041 sq. miles (6.045139 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.043871 sq. miles (0.113625 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.377912 sq. miles (6.158764 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Thornton, TX — U.S. town in Texas Population (2000): 525 Housing Units (2000): 248 Land area (2000): 0.991530 sq. miles (2.568050 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.005590 sq. miles (0.014478 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.997120 sq. miles (2.582528 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Thornton — [thôrnt′ n] [after Dan Thornton, governor of Colo. (1956)] city in NE Colo., north of Denver: pop. 82,000 …   English World dictionary

  • Thornton — Thornton, 1) Insel im Großen Ozean, s. Karolineinsel. – 2) Früher Stadt im Westbezirk von Yorkshire (England), neuerdings Teil von Bradford …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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