Thornton Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Thornton last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Thornton last name
Meaning of the Thornton last name: from Thornton, "thorn-bush farm". Thornton comes from one of the many places called Thornton, meaning "farm by the thorn bushes". Such places are especially common in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the surname is still most at home. In Ireland the name was also used as an English form of a Gaelic name linked with the blackthorn. A curious detail: Thornton near Bradford was the birthplace of the Brontë sisters.
Arms associated with the Thornton name
Animals on English shields were chosen for the qualities they stood for, such as the lion for courage, a tradition seen in arms used by Thornton families.
Get your full Thornton family history
This is only a glimpse of the Thornton story. The full Thornton history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Thornton coat of arms. Get the full Thornton report.
Thornton name FAQ
What does the Thornton name mean?
From Thornton, "thorn-bush farm". Common variants include Thorntone, Thorneton, Thorne.
Where does the Thornton surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Thornton coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Thornton coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.