NameCensus.

UK surname

Thorington

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "farm/settlement of THOR's people."

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Thorington surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Braxted, Great, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Clacton, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Barra and South Uist and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thorington is 183 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.7%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

88

2016, ranked #32,396

Peak year

1891

183 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 1998

Key insights

  • Thorington had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016, ranked #32,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 183 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Thorington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thorington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thorington 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 183 #15,918
1901 historical 139 #18,876
1911 historical 155 #17,485
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 90 #30,567
2009 modern 93 #30,682
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 92 #32,132
2015 modern 85 #32,693
2016 modern 88 #32,396

Geography

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Where Thoringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Braxted, Great, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Clacton, Little, Thundersley and Dedham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Barra and South Uist, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Kirklees and Braintree. 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 Braxted, Great Essex
2 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
3 Clacton, Little Essex
4 Thundersley Essex
5 Dedham Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 010 Fenland
2 Barra and South Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Kirklees 032 Kirklees
5 Braintree 013 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thorington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thorington

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Thorington is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thorington is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thorington falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Thorington 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 Thorington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Thorington

The surname Thorington has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from a place name, possibly referring to a settlement or location with a connection to the Old English words "thorn" and "tun," implying a thorny or thorn-covered town or enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, the comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This reference suggests that the name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, several variations of the name surfaced in historical records, including Thornington, Thornyngton, and Thorningtun. These spellings likely reflect regional dialects and the evolving nature of written English at the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Thorington was Sir William Thorington, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1320 and achieved recognition for his valor on the battlefield.

Another prominent individual with the Thorington surname was Sir John Thorington, who lived in the late 15th century. He served as a member of the English Parliament and held influential positions within the local gentry.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various records, including parish registers and legal documents. One such record mentions a Thomas Thorington, born in 1542, who was a successful merchant in the city of London.

In the 17th century, a member of the Thorington family, Richard Thorington, played a role in the English Civil War. He was a staunch Parliamentarian and fought against the Royalist forces led by King Charles I.

The 18th century saw the birth of Samuel Thorington, a renowned scholar and theologian. Born in 1705, he authored several influential works on religious philosophy and served as a respected academic at Oxford University.

Throughout its history, the surname Thorington has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many families bearing the name residing in various regions of the country. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins remain deeply rooted in the place names and linguistic traditions of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thorington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thorington 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. Essex leads with 72 Thoringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.69x.

County Total Index
Essex 72 33.69x
Middlesex 10 0.92x
Kent 9 2.44x
Cornwall 5 4.08x
Somerset 5 2.87x
Suffolk 4 3.03x
Gloucestershire 2 0.94x
Sussex 2 1.10x
Berkshire 1 1.23x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thundersley in Essex leads with 32 Thoringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16842.11x.

Place Total Index
Thundersley 32 16842.11x
Great Braxted 10 7142.86x
Bethnal Green London 7 14.88x
Dedham 7 1076.92x
Plumstead 6 48.74x
South Shoebury 6 697.67x
Henstridge 5 1041.67x
Little Clacton 5 2173.91x
St Ives 5 208.33x
Brentwood 3 230.77x
Lavenham 3 434.78x
Wickham Bishops 3 1500.00x
Pitsea 2 2500.00x
Seal 2 333.33x
Snowshill 2 2222.22x
Acton 1 476.19x
Chelsea London 1 3.07x
Cholsey 1 156.25x
Clapham 1 7.39x
Colchester St Botolph 1 54.95x
Colchester St Nicholas 1 526.32x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 25.71x
Milton In Gravesend 1 18.05x
Paddington London 1 2.51x
Prittlewell 1 33.78x
St Marylebone London 1 1.73x
Thakeham 1 500.00x
West Ham 1 2.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Emily 4
Alice 3
Emma 3
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Beatress 1
Beatrice 1
Carloine 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Christirina 1
Edith 1
Elizth.J. 1
Ellen 1
Elly 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marrth 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Matildia 1
Minnie 1
Naven 1
Rachel 1
Sophey 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
George 7
John 5
James 4
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Philip 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alma 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Thorington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thorington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Thorington surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thorington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Thorington a modern rank of #32,396.

What does the Thorington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "farm/settlement of THOR's people."

What does the Thorington map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thorington 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.