NameCensus.

UK surname

Thurman

Derived from the Old Norse personal name Þormundr, composed of the elements þórr, meaning "thunder," and mund, meaning "protection."

In the 1881 census there were 740 people recorded with the Thurman surname, ranking it #4,951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 828, ranked #6,712, down from #4,951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Loughborough and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Amber Valley and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thurman is 1,044 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.9%.

1881 census count

740

Ranked #4,951

Modern count

828

2016, ranked #6,712

Peak year

1911

1,044 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thurman had 740 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016, ranked #6,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,044 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thurman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thurman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thurman 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 442 #5,570
1861 historical 469 #5,536
1881 historical 740 #4,951
1891 historical 793 #5,071
1901 historical 947 #4,944
1911 historical 1,044 #4,400
1997 modern 953 #5,708
1998 modern 948 #5,913
1999 modern 963 #5,888
2000 modern 937 #5,999
2001 modern 917 #5,993
2002 modern 955 #5,899
2003 modern 909 #6,037
2004 modern 913 #6,024
2005 modern 872 #6,175
2006 modern 869 #6,213
2007 modern 866 #6,287
2008 modern 859 #6,365
2009 modern 872 #6,437
2010 modern 886 #6,475
2011 modern 877 #6,457
2012 modern 874 #6,391
2013 modern 871 #6,511
2014 modern 870 #6,536
2015 modern 851 #6,596
2016 modern 828 #6,712

Geography

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Where Thurmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Loughborough, Birstall, Carcolston and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Amber Valley, Leicester and Charnwood. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Loughborough Leicestershire
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Carcolston Nottinghamshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
2 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley
3 Leicester 026 Leicester
4 Amber Valley 004 Amber Valley
5 Charnwood 005 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thurman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thurman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Thurman, 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 Thurman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Thurman 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Thurman 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

Thurman 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

Thurman 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 Thurman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Thurman

The surname Thurman has its origins in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "þunor" (meaning "thunder") and "mann" (meaning "man"), suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who was particularly loud or boisterous.

Historical records indicate that the Thurman name was predominantly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where it was often associated with landowners and farmers. One notable early reference can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a "Thurmannus de Bingley."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Thurman surname. However, it does include entries for places like Thurmanby and Thurmundesbi, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Thurman surname was Sir Roger Thurman, a knight who lived in the 13th century and was involved in the Second Barons' War against King Henry III. Another notable Thurman was John Thurman, a merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Thurman name became more widespread across England, with several individuals bearing the surname making their mark in various fields. For instance, William Thurman (1557-1622) was a prominent Puritan clergyman and author, known for his published sermons and theological writings.

In the 18th century, the Thurman family produced several notable figures, including Edward Thurman (1707-1775), a successful businessman and landowner in Lincolnshire, and John Thurman (1733-1810), a renowned architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Georgian style.

As the British Empire expanded, the Thurman name also found its way to other parts of the world. One example is Sir Edward Thurman (1810-1888), a British colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western Provinces in India during the latter part of the 19th century.

While the Thurman surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Thurmand, Thurmon, and Thurmond, its origins can be traced back to the Old English words that reflect the powerful and thunderous nature associated with the name's earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thurman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thurman 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. Leicestershire leads with 177 Thurmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.12x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 177 22.12x
Nottinghamshire 156 16.03x
Yorkshire 92 1.29x
Warwickshire 50 2.75x
Middlesex 44 0.61x
Suffolk 40 4.55x
Derbyshire 38 3.36x
Lancashire 24 0.28x
Staffordshire 20 0.82x
Essex 17 1.19x
Surrey 17 0.48x
Dorset 9 1.90x
Kent 9 0.37x
Cheshire 7 0.44x
Hampshire 7 0.47x
Worcestershire 7 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.92x
Gloucestershire 4 0.28x
Lincolnshire 4 0.35x
Shropshire 4 0.64x
Devon 3 0.20x
Sussex 3 0.25x
Buteshire 1 2.29x
Cumberland 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Somerset 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheepshed in Leicestershire leads with 86 Thurmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 783.96x.

Place Total Index
Sheepshed 86 783.96x
Loughborough 42 115.64x
Snenton 27 70.63x
Car Colston 24 3529.41x
Nottingham St Mary 24 9.54x
Heckmondwike 22 95.61x
Mansfield 20 59.40x
West Ham 17 5.40x
Aston 15 2.99x
Southcoates 14 35.26x
Birmingham 13 2.14x
Derby St Werburgh 12 18.39x
Shoreditch London 12 3.84x
Derby St Alkmund 11 32.48x
Batley 10 14.71x
Lea Marston 10 1315.79x
Barrow In Furness 9 7.73x
Hammersmith London 9 5.06x
Ipswich St Mathew 9 36.53x
Lambeth 9 1.43x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 12.00x
Basford 8 17.84x
Falkenham 8 1176.47x
Tipton 8 10.72x
Wilford 8 291.97x
Atherstone 7 75.27x
Bedford 7 39.06x
Dudley 7 6.11x
Eskdaleside 7 198.86x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 15.20x
Hunslet 7 6.28x
Islington London 7 1.00x
Melcombe Regis 7 35.66x
Radford 7 14.16x
Belgrave 6 33.22x
Blore With Swinscoe 6 1395.35x
Long Eaton 6 40.21x
Nailstone 6 329.67x
Portsea 6 2.07x
Thurmaston North 6 576.92x
Walton 6 190.48x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.56x
Greenwich 5 4.35x
Higham On The Hill 5 450.45x
Hinckley 5 26.34x
Ordsall 5 67.11x
Pirbright 5 279.33x
Alfreton 4 11.65x
Bradwell 4 65.15x
Breedon 4 225.99x
Cainham 4 138.41x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.94x
Cotgrave 4 197.04x
Melton Mowbray 4 27.80x
Monks Coppenhall 4 6.65x
Screveton 4 909.09x
Woodbridge 4 35.59x
Beeston 3 26.83x
Betton 3 526.32x
Brighton 3 1.22x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 6.35x
Ilfracombe 3 19.39x
Kensington London 3 0.75x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.54x
Long Whatton 3 173.41x
Nottingham St Peter 3 27.65x
St Gregory By St Pauls 3 165.75x
Stapleford 3 37.97x
Bucklesham 2 253.16x
Bulwell 2 9.46x
Chester St Michael 2 106.38x
Granby Sutton 2 204.08x
Kingsbury 2 51.41x
Langford 2 487.80x
Paddington London 2 0.75x
Saxmundham 2 61.35x
St Ann Blackfriars 2 200.00x
St Botolph Lincoln 2 24.10x
Stanford On Soar 2 769.23x
Yoxall 2 62.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 32
Annie 19
Eliza 14
Emma 13
Ann 12
Alice 10
Ada 9
Emily 9
Martha 9
Ellen 8
Maria 7
Kate 6
Fanny 5
Jane 5
Lucy 5
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Francis 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Ruth 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Harriett 3
Matilda 3
Clara 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Minnie 2
Nelly 2
Patience 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Emm. 1
Etty 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 48
Thomas 39
George 21
Joseph 18
Charles 15
James 14
Arthur 11
Edward 11
Henry 9
Samuel 9
Walter 8
Harry 6
Richard 6
Benjamin 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
David 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Isaac 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Elijah 2
Jno. 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Arthr 1
Bergham 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Cecil 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Fredk. 1
Jas. 1
Jerry 1
Jesse 1
Jim 1
Josh.Geo. 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Thurman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thurman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 740 people were recorded with the Thurman surname. That placed it at #4,951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thurman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016. That gives Thurman a modern rank of #6,712.

What does the Thurman surname mean?

Derived from the Old Norse personal name Þormundr, composed of the elements þórr, meaning "thunder," and mund, meaning "protection."

What does the Thurman map show?

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