UK surname
A surname derived from the word for a prickly plant with purple thistle-like flowers.
In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Thistle surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #17,335 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whitby, London parishes and Middleton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thistle is 125 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.2%.
1881 census count
125
Ranked #17,335
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1881
125 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thistle surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thistle surname density by area, 1881 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 125 | #17,335 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 114 | #21,166 |
| 1911 | historical | 113 | #21,168 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 72 | #30,775 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 72 | #33,021 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 64 | #34,141 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whitby, London parishes, Middleton and Flitcham. 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 | Whitby | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Middleton | Norfolk |
| 4 | Flitcham | Norfolk |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thistle 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 Thistle, 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 Thistle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thistle 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, Thistle 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 Thistle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thistle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thistle originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records of the name dating back to the 14th century. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Thistle, a small village near Dundee. The word "thistle" itself comes from the Old English word "thistel," referring to the prickly purple plant that is the national emblem of Scotland.
During the reign of King Alexander III in the 13th century, a legendary tale emerged about the Scottish thistle. It is said that a Viking raider, attempting a night attack on a Scottish camp, stepped on a thistle and cried out in pain, alerting the Scottish warriors and allowing them to defend themselves successfully. This story popularized the thistle as a symbol of Scottish bravery and resilience.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Thistle was John Thistle, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1378. In the 15th century, a family by the name of Thistle owned lands near the village of Thistle, which may have contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname in that area.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Thistle was William Thistle (c. 1520-1588), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Caithness. He was known for his involvement in the Scottish Reformation and his efforts to promote Protestant reforms in the Scottish Church.
Another prominent individual with the surname Thistle was Robert Thistle (1685-1758), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the economic development of Edinburgh. He was a member of the Town Council and helped establish several important trade routes and industries in the city.
During the 18th century, the spelling of the surname evolved, with variations such as Thistlethwaite and Thistlewood appearing in historical records. One notable figure from this period was Matthew Thistlewood (1738-1795), a British soldier and adventurer who served in the East India Company and later became involved in political intrigues in France.
In the 19th century, James Thistle (1812-1884) was a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and agricultural machinery. He held several patents and was recognized for his innovative designs and improvements to existing technologies.
Throughout history, the surname Thistle has been associated with Scotland and its rich cultural heritage, reflecting the resilience and strength symbolized by the thistle plant. While the name may have evolved in spelling and geographical distribution over time, it remains deeply rooted in Scottish tradition and history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thistle 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. Yorkshire leads with 38 Thistles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 38 | 3.12x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.30x |
| Norfolk | 15 | 7.94x |
| Surrey | 12 | 2.00x |
| Essex | 9 | 3.71x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 3.28x |
| Sussex | 5 | 2.41x |
| Devon | 4 | 1.56x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.09x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.19x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.53x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 1.89x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.75x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 2.15x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.24x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.18x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.94x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitby in Yorkshire leads with 10 Thistles recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.90x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thistle 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 Thistle 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 Thistle households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Blacksmith | 3 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Brewers Laborer | 2 |
| Private | 2 |
| Retired Farmer | 2 |
| Apprentice To Ironmonger | 1 |
| At Home | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Blacksmith Wife | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Clerk In Rec...ag Off | 1 |
| Clerk Merchant | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Curator Of Trinity St Marylebone | 1 |
| Deal Porter | 1 |
| Dom Ser | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Draper &c | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer Of 105 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Of 356 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Daur | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Foreman Gas Maker | 1 |
| Formerly Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Domestic Serv | 1 |
| General La | 1 |
| Grocer (Employing 1 Boy) | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Ironer (Ws) | 1 |
| Ironmongers Assist | 1 |
| Jeweller (Employing 2 Boys) | 1 |
| Journaman Confectr | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Organist | 1 |
| Organist (Musician) | 1 |
| Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Physician & Surgeon D.D. | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Thistle surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Thistle a modern rank of #34,287.
A surname derived from the word for a prickly plant with purple thistle-like flowers.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thistle 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.