UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a person who attended royal or parliamentary assemblies.
In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Thing surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #23,220 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whissonsett, St Bees and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thing is 220 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.9%.
1881 census count
73
Ranked #23,220
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1861
220 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thing surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thing surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 120 | #15,144 |
| 1861 | historical | 220 | #11,076 |
| 1881 | historical | 73 | #23,220 |
| 1891 | historical | 188 | #15,609 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whissonsett, St Bees, London parishes and Stowmarket. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whissonsett | Norfolk |
| 2 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Stowmarket | Suffolk |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thing surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Thing, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Thing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thing household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Thing is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Thing is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thing, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thing is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "thing," which referred to an assembly or meeting place. This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with someone who lived near or worked at such a gathering place.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John atte Thinge is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates that the name was likely a descriptive one, referring to someone's proximity to a meeting place or "thing."
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as William del Thing (1327) and Robert Atte Thinge (1349), further solidifying its connection to the Old English word.
The surname Thing is also documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early record lends credence to the name's long history in the region.
Notably, the name was associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One such person was Sir Thomas Thing (1515-1587), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the 16th century.
Another notable bearer of the surname was John Thing (1610-1673), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and religious topics.
In the 18th century, the name was carried by James Thing (1730-1799), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the town of Leith, near Edinburgh.
Moving into the 19th century, we find Elizabeth Thing (1822-1901), an American educator and activist who worked tirelessly for the abolition of slavery and women's rights.
Lastly, the early 20th century saw the birth of Henry F. Thing (1903-1987), an American lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1970 to 1978.
These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who bore the surname Thing throughout history, solidifying its place as a longstanding and significant name across various cultures and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thing surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 28 Things recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.29x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whissonsett in Norfolk leads with 11 Things recorded in 1881 and an index of 7333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Whissonsett | 11 | 7333.33x |
| Stowmarket | 9 | 900.00x |
| Haughley | 7 | 3181.82x |
| Little Dunham | 7 | 10000.00x |
| Ipswich St Mathew | 6 | 246.91x |
| Kensington London | 6 | 15.16x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 5 | 151.98x |
| Combs | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 16.01x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 3 | 102.04x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 4.83x |
| Chippenham | 2 | 151.52x |
| Houghton Regis | 2 | 338.98x |
| Chatham | 1 | 14.97x |
| Colkirk | 1 | 909.09x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 10.76x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.74x |
| Walditch | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 11.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thing surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Thing surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Thing households.
FAQ
In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Thing surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Thing a modern rank of #36,533.
An occupational surname referring to a person who attended royal or parliamentary assemblies.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thing bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.