NameCensus.

UK surname

Thorner

A surname derived from the place name Thorn or Thorner, denoting someone from those locations.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Thorner surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, down from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sydling St.Nicholas, Litton Cheney, Askerswell and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thorner is 233 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2014

233 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thorner had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thorner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thorner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thorner 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 213 #14,269
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 169 #16,564
1997 modern 219 #16,666
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 211 #17,376
2002 modern 220 #17,249
2003 modern 211 #17,513
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 205 #17,838
2006 modern 202 #18,160
2007 modern 213 #17,744
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 232 #17,481
2012 modern 221 #17,979
2013 modern 227 #17,922
2014 modern 233 #17,707
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Thorners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sydling St.Nicholas, Litton Cheney, Askerswell, Portland, Radipole and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip and South Somerset. 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 Sydling St.Nicholas Dorset
2 Litton Cheney, Askerswell Dorset
3 Portland Dorset
4 Radipole Dorset
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 010 Mendip
2 Mendip 009 Mendip
3 Mendip 013 Mendip
4 Mendip 006 Mendip
5 South Somerset 002 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thorner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thorner

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Thorner is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Thorner is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thorner 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 Thorner 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 Thorner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Thorner

The surname Thorner is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically in Germany and surrounding areas. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the name of a town or village called Thorner or a similar variation.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Thorner can be traced back to the 16th century. In 1567, a record from the town of Altenburg in Saxony, Germany, mentions a Hans Thorner. Another early reference is found in a document from 1583 in the city of Nuremberg, which lists a Johann Thorner.

The name Thorner may have originated from the Old German word "dorn," meaning thorn or thorny bush, suggesting that the name could have been given to someone who lived near a thorny area or worked with thorns in some capacity. Alternatively, it could be derived from the name of a place called Thorner or a similar variation, potentially referring to a town or village with that name.

In terms of historical references, the Thorner surname does not appear to have any significant mentions in major historical documents or manuscripts. However, it is possible that some individuals with this name may have been recorded in local or regional records from various parts of Germany and surrounding regions.

One notable individual with the surname Thorner was Johann Jakob Thorner, a German physician and naturalist who lived from 1668 to 1733. He was born in Nuremberg and is known for his contributions to the study of botany and natural history.

Another person of note with the Thorner surname was Friedrich Wilhelm Thorner, a German philosopher and academic who lived from 1766 to 1836. He was a professor of philosophy at the University of Halle and made significant contributions to the field of German idealism.

In the 19th century, there was a German writer and journalist named Karl Thorner, who was born in 1823 and died in 1898. He was known for his work as a literary critic and his contributions to various newspapers and magazines in Germany.

The surname Thorner has also been present in other parts of Europe, including Austria. One example is Karl Thorner, an Austrian writer and journalist who lived from 1863 to 1935. He was born in Vienna and worked as a journalist and editor for various publications in Austria and Germany.

Finally, a more recent individual with the Thorner surname was Walter Thorner, a German-American physicist who lived from 1909 to 1994. He was born in Berlin and later emigrated to the United States, where he worked as a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thorner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thorner 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. Dorset leads with 89 Thorners recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.00x.

County Total Index
Dorset 89 88.00x
Kent 22 4.18x
Yorkshire 14 0.92x
Lancashire 8 0.44x
Somerset 7 2.82x
Middlesex 6 0.39x
Gloucestershire 4 1.32x
Surrey 3 0.40x
Hampshire 2 0.63x
Staffordshire 2 0.38x
Devon 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Puncknowle in Dorset leads with 17 Thorners recorded in 1881 and an index of 6800.00x.

Place Total Index
Puncknowle 17 6800.00x
Burton Bradstock 16 3200.00x
Sydling St Nicholas 12 4137.93x
Shipton George 9 5625.00x
Wyke Regis 7 482.76x
Doulting 6 1875.00x
Maidstone 6 38.31x
Pendlebury 6 155.44x
Charminster 5 625.00x
Litton Cheney 5 2083.33x
Chilfrome 4 8000.00x
Horsemonden 4 519.48x
Leeds 4 4.64x
Mirfield 4 47.73x
Shadwell London 4 92.81x
Barnsley 3 19.05x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 434.78x
Cheltenham 3 12.86x
Lambeth 3 2.23x
Bridport 2 96.15x
Bromley 2 24.97x
Cheriton 2 93.46x
Lewisham 2 7.13x
Radipole 2 285.71x
Sittingbourne 2 48.19x
Skircoat 2 33.22x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 3.63x
Toller Porcorum 2 833.33x
Winterborne Came 2 2500.00x
Bedminster 1 4.29x
Christchurch 1 14.60x
Clifton 1 6.54x
Dorchester All Sts 1 208.33x
East Chelborough 1 1666.67x
Honiton 1 56.18x
Kensington London 1 1.17x
Layton With Warbreck 1 14.90x
Linton 1 217.39x
Longbredy 1 833.33x
Mexborough 1 33.00x
Oldham 1 1.69x
Portland 1 18.38x
Southampton St Mary 1 5.04x
St Pancras London 1 0.81x
West Stafford 1 1000.00x
Weymouth 1 52.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 9
Sarah 6
Emma 4
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Drusilla 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emelia 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Kerlina 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Mina 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1
Vertue 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 10
John 8
Thomas 6
Edward 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Charles 2
Henry 2
Levi 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Aquilla 1
Arthur 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
Jacob 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Thorner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thorner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Thorner surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thorner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Thorner a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Thorner surname mean?

A surname derived from the place name Thorn or Thorner, denoting someone from those locations.

What does the Thorner map show?

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