Thornton

Meaning: (Town of Thorns, Thorn-Bush Settlement, Thorn variants are English surnames occasionally used as given names. Place name given as a given name since 19^th Century, Author Thornton Wilder.

This interesting surname is of Olde English and occasionally Scottish, pre 7th century origins. It is locational and northern, being from any of the several places called Thornton in counties of Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, or from the lands of Thornton in the Mearns, Scotland. Wherever found the name derives from the words "thorn" meaning a thorn bush or hedge, and "tun", an enclosure or settlement. In this case the word "thorn" is believed to have defensive implications, thorn hedges being deliberately grown around fortified positions both to keep would be raiders out, and the owners cattle in. Locational names were frequently given to the local lord of the manor, as in the first recording below, but more usually were "from" names. That is to say names given to people after they left their original homes, to move elsewhere. Early interesting recordings suggest that the name was spelt Thorntowne in Scotland as late as the year 1609, and that a number of Scottish merchants of the name settled in the state of Prussia, the spelling being recorded there as Dornthon in 1644. Other recordings include Henry Thornton in the Freemans rolls of the city of Canterbury. Kent, in 1362, whilst three centuries later in April 1635, Walter Thornton and his wife, Joanna, left the port of London, England, on the ship "Suzan and Ellin" bound the colony of Virginia. They were amonst the first to settle in the new colony. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Beatrice de Thornton. This was dated 1202, in the "Fine Court Rolls" of the county of Yorkshire, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Thornton )

Origin: (Old English, Gaelic, Scottish)

Pronunciation: (THORN-ten, THOHRN-tən, THAWRN- tən)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I saw this used as a first name on Author Thornton Wilder and really liked it and added it to my list for this blog. I forget where I saw his name but looking at pictures of him he looks like a pretty interesting fellow. I love the meanings and the very long historical use even if that was just as a surname (last name). I think this would make an amazing first name in a Fantasy or Science-Fiction novel. It’s rough but also nature based in a way. The look is nice and the pronunciation is easy.