Thornton Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Thornton is an Old English name meaning 'settlement by the thorn bushes'. It evolved from Þornetūn in Old English to its current form. The name reflects a connection to nature and settlements, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity as a surname in England, particularly associated with various locations named Thornton.
The name Thornton is most popular in Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Thornton has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Thornton' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 857th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1132nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1418th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2460th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4348th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7547th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8684th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Thornton' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Thornton"
Pronunciation
/ˈθɔːrn.tən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Thornton is derived from the Old English elements 'thorn' meaning 'thorn bush' and 'tun' meaning 'settlement' or 'enclosure'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'settlement by the thorn bushes'.
Meaning
settlement by the thorn bushes
Language Evolution
Þornetūn (Old English), Thornetun (Middle English), Thornton (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Thornton has been in use since the Middle Ages and gained popularity as a surname in England. It became associated with various locations named Thornton.
Variants & Derivatives
Thorn, Thorny, Thorntonian
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Thornton is perceived as a traditional English surname and is commonly associated with various places and families in England.
Famous People
Henry Thornton (British politician), William Thornton (American architect), Robert Thornton (British botanist)
Explore More Thornton Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Thornton"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Thornton"
"Thornton" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 857th of 7545 | 1,004 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1132nd of 6773 | 653 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1418th of 7552 | 570 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2460th of 10718 | 248 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4348th of 16616 | 178 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7547th of 24088 | 142 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8684th of 23106 | 97 |
Regional Popularity of "Thornton" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
67.37% 954th/1416 |
66.64% 919th/1379 |
38.88% 920th/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
65.87% 1025th/1556 |
53.34% 1255th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
58.24% 1297th/2227 |
- |
60.11% 1715th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
- |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Thornton" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Thornton"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Thornton" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.