NameCensus.

UK surname

Thistlethwaite

A habitational name referring to one from a place clearing of thistles.

In the 1881 census there were 484 people recorded with the Thistlethwaite surname, ranking it #6,939 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 682, ranked #7,860, down from #6,939 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedbergh, Bentham and Melling. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Craven and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thistlethwaite is 721 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.

1881 census count

484

Ranked #6,939

Modern count

682

2016, ranked #7,860

Peak year

2002

721 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thistlethwaite had 484 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,939 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016, ranked #7,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 586 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Thistlethwaite surname distribution map

The map shows where the Thistlethwaite surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Thistlethwaite surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thistlethwaite over time

The 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 484 #6,939
1891 historical 536 #7,013
1901 historical 586 #7,201
1911 historical 561 #7,180
1997 modern 674 #7,459
1998 modern 699 #7,485
1999 modern 702 #7,500
2000 modern 698 #7,506
2001 modern 707 #7,314
2002 modern 721 #7,340
2003 modern 715 #7,255
2004 modern 683 #7,554
2005 modern 665 #7,652
2006 modern 665 #7,678
2007 modern 674 #7,666
2008 modern 670 #7,731
2009 modern 693 #7,697
2010 modern 713 #7,667
2011 modern 718 #7,549
2012 modern 696 #7,638
2013 modern 693 #7,790
2014 modern 682 #7,941
2015 modern 676 #7,943
2016 modern 682 #7,860

Geography

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Where Thistlethwaites are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedbergh, Bentham, Melling, Spennithorn and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Craven and South Lakeland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Sedbergh Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bentham Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Melling Lancashire
4 Spennithorn Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 001 Lancaster
2 Craven 001 Craven
3 South Lakeland 014 South Lakeland
4 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
5 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thistlethwaite

These lists show first names that appear often with the Thistlethwaite surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thistlethwaite

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Thistlethwaite, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Thistlethwaite surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Thistlethwaite household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Thistlethwaite is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thistlethwaite is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thistlethwaite falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Thistlethwaite is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Thistlethwaite, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Thistlethwaite

The surname Thistlethwaite is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the old English words "thistel" meaning thistle and "thwaite" meaning a clearing or meadow. The name therefore refers to someone who lived near a thistle meadow or clearing.

Early recordings of the name can be found in the 13th century tax rolls of Yorkshire, where it was spelled as Thistilthwayt and Thistelthwayte. The name is also recorded in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, indicating its long history in that region of northern England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Thistlethwayte, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1308. The Feet of Fines were records of land transfers and legal agreements from medieval times.

By the 16th century, the spelling had evolved closer to the modern form, with variations like Thistlethwaite and Thistlethwait appearing in parish records across Yorkshire and Lancashire. Notable early bearers include William Thistlethwaite, christened in 1587 in Giggleswick, Yorkshire, and Edmond Thistlethwaite, who was born around 1600 in Bury, Lancashire.

In the 17th century, the name continued to be concentrated in the north of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable bearer from this period was Samuel Thistlethwaite (1608-1668), a English clergyman who served as the Vicar of Birstall in Yorkshire.

As the name spread over the centuries, it also found its way into other parts of Britain. In the 18th century, Michael Thistlethwaite (1751-1827) was a respected physician and author who practiced in London and wrote on medical topics.

By the 19th century, the Thistlethwaite surname had become more widespread across Britain, though still with a concentration in northern England. John Thistlethwaite (1824-1900) was a prominent businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Bradford, while Charles Thistlethwaite (1847-1910) was an English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thistlethwaite families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thistlethwaite surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 269 Thistlethwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.79x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 269 4.79x
Yorkshire 159 3.39x
Westmorland 21 20.20x
Cheshire 11 1.05x
Durham 9 0.64x
Cumberland 5 1.23x
Derbyshire 4 0.54x
Lanarkshire 4 0.26x
Kent 1 0.06x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Sutherland 1 2.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 42 Thistlethwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.83x.

Place Total Index
Burnley 42 88.83x
Ingleton 41 1553.03x
Austwick 14 1818.18x
Ulverston 14 85.63x
Little Bolton 12 16.63x
Turton 11 119.70x
Holme 10 793.65x
Lancaster 10 29.94x
Tonge With Haulgh 10 91.49x
Claife 9 1011.24x
Habergham Eaves 9 17.54x
Nether Kellet 9 2000.00x
Windle 9 28.49x
Accrington 8 15.67x
Askrigg 8 792.08x
Farleton 8 4000.00x
Great Lever 8 134.23x
Hawes 8 260.59x
Hulme 8 6.83x
Middlesbrough 8 13.10x
Newchurch 8 17.42x
Shipley 8 32.88x
Aighton Bailey 7 259.26x
Bellerby 7 1372.55x
Great Ayton 7 243.90x
Hornby 7 1206.90x
Kirkdale 7 7.41x
Witton 7 99.15x
Ambleside 6 186.34x
Barrow In Furness 6 7.86x
Billington 6 262.01x
Dent 6 306.12x
Hunslet 6 8.21x
Manningham 6 10.39x
Nantwich 6 49.46x
Preston 6 3.99x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 11.83x
Undermilbeck 5 145.77x
Warrington 5 7.51x
Wiswell 5 416.67x
Crook Billy Row 4 22.20x
Dalton In Furness 4 18.46x
Govan 4 1.06x
Leck 4 909.09x
Norton 4 65.57x
Otley 4 35.15x
Settle 4 111.42x
West Clayton 4 171.67x
West Witton 4 493.83x
York St George 4 108.40x
Clitheroe 3 18.16x
Oxton 3 50.76x
Penrith 3 19.93x
Ruswarp 3 57.58x
Stretford 3 9.71x
Whalley 3 36.67x
Whittington 3 535.71x
Cliviger 2 63.29x
Holme In Huddersfield 2 181.82x
Hurworth 2 81.30x
Moss Side 2 6.77x
Newton In Clitheroe 2 370.37x
St Cuthbert W O 2 10.08x
Stainforth In Settle 2 588.24x
Walton Le Dale 2 13.26x
Ackworth 1 27.78x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.83x
Bradford 1 0.88x
Burton In Lonsdale 1 99.01x
Carnforth 1 32.47x
Cheetham 1 2.39x
Darlington 1 1.84x
Fishwick 1 28.82x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 1 64.10x
Kingswood 1 256.41x
Lawkland 1 204.08x
Leeds 1 0.38x
Lewisham 1 1.16x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.47x
Toxteth Park 1 0.53x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thistlethwaite surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 25
Margaret 20
Alice 14
Elizabeth 14
Ellen 12
Jane 10
Annie 7
Martha 5
Ann 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Maggie 4
Bertha 3
Eleanor 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Maud 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Betty 2
Catherine 2
Dinah 2
Dorothy 2
Isabella 2
Olive 2
Rachel 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Angelina 1
Arabella 1
Arthur 1
Beatrice 1
E. 1
E.M. 1
Eden 1
Eleen 1
Elenor 1
Eliza 1
Francis 1
Henrietta 1
Janey 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Mable 1
Marg. 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Thistlethwaite surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 39
James 27
William 27
Thomas 26
Robert 9
George 8
Edward 7
Joseph 6
Anthony 5
Arthur 5
Richard 5
Fred 4
Adam 3
Charles 3
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Miles 2
Stephen 2
Bertie 1
Carl 1
Cecil 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Jno.A. 1
Jos. 1
Lawrence 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Milton 1
Morgan 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richd.Jowsey 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Thistlethwaite surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thistlethwaite surname in 1881?

In 1881, 484 people were recorded with the Thistlethwaite surname. That placed it at #6,939 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thistlethwaite surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016. That gives Thistlethwaite a modern rank of #7,860.

What does the Thistlethwaite surname mean?

A habitational name referring to one from a place clearing of thistles.

What does the Thistlethwaite map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thistlethwaite bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.