NameCensus.

UK surname

Thursby

A locational surname denoting someone from Thursby, a village in Cumbria, England.

In the 1881 census there were 352 people recorded with the Thursby surname, ranking it #8,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 365, ranked #12,721, down from #8,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Gateshead and Gainsborough, Paddocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Allerdale and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thursby is 497 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.7%.

1881 census count

352

Ranked #8,718

Modern count

365

2016, ranked #12,721

Peak year

1901

497 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thursby had 352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016, ranked #12,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 497 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thursby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thursby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Thursby 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 255 #8,652
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 352 #8,718
1891 historical 427 #8,391
1901 historical 497 #8,090
1911 historical 460 #8,357
1997 modern 401 #10,989
1998 modern 407 #11,212
1999 modern 409 #11,264
2000 modern 402 #11,357
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 386 #11,740
2003 modern 369 #11,941
2004 modern 366 #12,053
2005 modern 358 #12,176
2006 modern 363 #12,123
2007 modern 369 #12,098
2008 modern 360 #12,431
2009 modern 356 #12,800
2010 modern 369 #12,726
2011 modern 362 #12,773
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 365 #12,766
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 365 #12,721

Geography

Back to top

Where Thursbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Gateshead, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Ealing, Chiswick and Stranraer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Allerdale, Sunderland, Bassetlaw and IZ04. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Stranraer Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
3 Sunderland 002 Sunderland
4 Bassetlaw 010 Bassetlaw
5 IZ04 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Thursby

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Thursby

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Thursby is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thursby is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thursby falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Thursby

The surname Thursby originated in England, likely derived from the Old Norse words "thurs" meaning giant or troll, and "by" meaning a village or settlement. It is believed to have emerged as a locational surname, referring to someone who resided in a place called Thursby, which could have been named after the mythical beings associated with the area.

The earliest records of the name can be traced back to the 12th century, with variations such as Thursbi, Thursebi, and Thuresbi appearing in ancient manuscripts. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Turesby" is mentioned, which is likely connected to the origin of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Thursby name was in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1196, where a Richard de Thursbyri was listed. Another early reference was found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202, which mentioned a John de Thursbyri.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Thursby and Thuresby, in records from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable individual was Sir John de Thursby, who served as a knight under King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th century.

During the 14th century, the Thursby family established themselves as landowners in Cumberland, where they held the manor of Thursby for several generations. Sir Roger de Thursby, born around 1320, was a prominent figure during this period and served as the High Sheriff of Cumberland.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Thursby family settled in Lancashire, where they became influential in the local community. William Thursby, born in 1548, was a respected landowner and served as a Justice of the Peace in the county.

Another notable individual with the Thursby surname was Benjamin Thursby, born in 1624 in Lincolnshire. He was a prominent Puritan clergyman and author, known for his religious writings and sermons.

As the surname spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to North America and other English-speaking countries through migration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Thursby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thursby 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. Cumberland leads with 65 Thursbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.05x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 65 22.05x
Middlesex 34 0.99x
Yorkshire 26 0.77x
Lancashire 22 0.54x
Lincolnshire 18 3.29x
Essex 17 2.52x
Norfolk 17 3.23x
Nottinghamshire 17 3.68x
Derbyshire 14 2.61x
Wigtownshire 13 28.60x
Durham 12 1.18x
Hampshire 12 1.71x
Warwickshire 11 1.27x
Northamptonshire 10 3.11x
Lanarkshire 9 0.81x
Cardiganshire 8 9.58x
Sussex 8 1.39x
Gloucestershire 6 0.89x
Northumberland 6 1.18x
Oxfordshire 5 2.36x
Westmorland 4 5.32x
Caernarfonshire 3 2.17x
Kent 2 0.17x
Staffordshire 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.46x
Denbighshire 1 0.77x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.71x
Leicestershire 1 0.26x
Monmouthshire 1 0.40x
Renfrewshire 1 0.38x
Suffolk 1 0.24x
Surrey 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cockermouth in Cumberland leads with 38 Thursbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 611.92x.

Place Total Index
Cockermouth 38 611.92x
Colchester St Peter 11 407.41x
Thorpe Next Norwich 10 179.21x
Acton 9 44.84x
Stranraer 9 216.35x
Aberystwith 8 111.27x
Caldewgate 8 49.54x
St Swithin Lincoln 8 92.92x
Wetheral 8 205.13x
Beighton 7 288.07x
Hornsey 7 16.17x
Hove 7 27.64x
Knottingley 7 117.45x
Everton 6 4.63x
Great Little Marsden 6 32.24x
Misterton 6 419.58x
Northampton Priory St 6 31.06x
Barony 5 1.78x
Coates 5 4166.67x
North Wheatley 5 1086.96x
Accrington 4 10.83x
Bridekirk 4 170.21x
Christchurch 4 26.28x
Hackney London 4 2.08x
Harlestone 4 597.01x
Islington London 4 1.21x
Leamington Priors 4 18.82x
Leswalt 4 128.62x
Middlesbrough 4 9.05x
Normanton 4 88.30x
Sheringham 4 294.12x
Southampton All Sts 4 33.22x
St Luke London 4 7.28x
St Martin Lincoln 4 78.74x
Strickland Roger 4 784.31x
Broadwell 3 652.17x
Carlton In Skipton 3 151.52x
Clifton 3 8.84x
Crosscanonby 3 30.77x
Darlington 3 7.63x
Eckington 3 23.04x
Gainsborough 3 23.24x
Great Horkesley 3 322.58x
Hetton Le Hole 3 23.24x
Kirby Hall 3 7500.00x
Llandudno 3 60.73x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 9.86x
South Leverton 3 638.30x
Westgate 3 9.51x
Whitwell House 3 1875.00x
Wormleighton 3 1111.11x
Bladon 2 277.78x
Bromley London 2 2.66x
Clarborough 2 57.97x
Coventry St Michael 2 7.21x
Govan 2 0.73x
Harborne 2 5.40x
Keighley 2 5.53x
New Monkland 2 6.11x
Oswaldtwistle 2 13.94x
Portsmouth 2 12.38x
Rickergate 2 32.05x
St Bartholomew Great 2 64.10x
St Benedict Lincoln 2 270.27x
Westoe 2 3.46x
Aston 1 0.42x
Bedwellty 1 2.29x
Burtonwood 1 67.11x
Farnborough 1 227.27x
Great Grimsby 1 2.88x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 7.07x
Kirklinton Middle 1 208.33x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.68x
Monkwearmouth 1 10.26x
Norwich St Stephen 1 20.70x
Swalcliffe 1 136.99x
The Holy Sepulchre 1 188.68x
Westminster St John 1 2.40x
Westwell 1 85.47x
York Holy Trinity 1 34.13x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 16
George 13
Thomas 10
James 8
Robert 8
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Luke 4
Cecil 3
Edmund 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Asa 1
Aurthur 1
Daniel 1
Darcy 1
David 1
Ebie 1
Edward 1
Evarard 1
Fortescue 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Glen 1
Harvey 1
Infant 1
Juesbest 1
Mathew 1
Neville 1
Piers 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Thursby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thursby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 352 people were recorded with the Thursby surname. That placed it at #8,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thursby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 365 in 2016. That gives Thursby a modern rank of #12,721.

What does the Thursby surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone from Thursby, a village in Cumbria, England.

What does the Thursby map show?

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