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Thorburn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Thorburn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The origins of the name Thorburn are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the baptismal name for the son of Thurburn. This ancient personal name was originally derived from the name of the Saxon God of Thunder, Thor. After the Norman Conquest, the Old English naming system gradually dissolved. Old English names became less common and were replaced by popular continental European names. The earliest surnames in England were found shortly after the Norman Conquest and are of Norman French rather than native English origins.

Early Origins of the Thorburn family

The surname Thorburn was first found in Norfolk where Thomas filius Thurbernus (Turberni) was listed 1153-1186. A few years later, Richard Turbern was listed in the Feet of Fines in 1198 and later, Richard Thurubern was listed at Ely in Norfolk in 1277. The name may have been listed in the Domesday Book as Thurbernus, Turbern and Torbern, 1 but it from the Norfolk branch that seems the most prevalent in these early years. Spellings widely varied as we found: Thurbarnus filius Ailiue in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1197; Richard Turbern in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1198; William Thurbern in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221; and Richard Thurubern at Ely, Norfolk in 1277. 1

In Sussex, the name claims descendancy from Thunder (Thor) or Thunder's Hill at Chittingly. Thor was the name of the ancient Saxon God of Thunder.

As to underscore the wide use on the name by the 13th century, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: William Thorebern, Oxfordshire; Richard Thorbarn, Oxfordshire; Dominus Thurbern, Suffolk; and Nicholas Thurbern, Wiltshire. 2 In Somerset, Philip Thorbarn was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3

Early History of the Thorburn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thorburn research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1197, 1273, 1327, 1607, 1656, 1659 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Thorburn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thorburn Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Thorburn has been spelled many different ways, including Thorburn, Thurburn, Thurbrand, Torburn and others.

Early Notables of the Thorburn family

More information is included under the topic Early Thorburn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thorburn Ranking

In New Zealand, the name Thorburn is the 782^nd most popular surname with an estimated 932 people with that name. 4

Thorburn migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Thorburns to arrive in North America:

Thorburn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Thorburn, who arrived in Virginia in 1716
Margaret Thorburn, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1775 5
James Thorburn, who arrived in Virginia in 1786 5
Grant Thorburn, who landed in New York in 1794 5

Thorburn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Miss Thorburn, who landed in New York in 1800 5
Frederick Thorburn, who arrived in Arkansas in 1882 5
Thomas Thorburn, who arrived in Arkansas in 1882 5

Thorburn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William Thorburn, who landed in Mississippi in 1901 5
Charles J. Thorburn, aged 38, who landed in America from Cardiff, in 1903
Agnes Thorburn, aged 23, who landed in America from Kilmarnock, Scotland, in 1904
David Scott Thorburn, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1906
Christina Thorburn, aged 31, who settled in America from Falkirk, Scotland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Thorburn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Thorburn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Sir Robert Thorburn, KCMG, from Juniper Bank, Peeblesshire, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1852 6

Thorburn Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Eleanor Thorburn, aged 30, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1907
Eleanora Thorburn, aged 30, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1909

Thorburn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Thorburn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Thorburn, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Mary Thorburn, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Elisabeth Thorburn, aged 6, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Robert Thorburn, aged 19, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
Andrew Thorburn, aged 17, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Thorburn (post 1700) +

Clifford Charles Devlin "Cliff" Thorburn CM (b. 1948), Canadian retired World Champion snooker player, nicknamed "The Grinder", member of the Order of Canada
Wayne Thorburn, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1988 7
Rose Thorburn, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1960, 1964; Presidential Elector for Minnesota, 1972 7
James S. Thorburn, American Republican politician, Circuit Judge in Michigan 6th Circuit, 1963-85; Appointed 1963; Candidate for justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1972 7
George H. Thorburn, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives Fifteenth Essex District, 1905 7
Barbara Thorburn (b. 1946), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2004, 2008, 2012 (alternate) 7
Archie H. Thorburn, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for New Hampshire Governor's Council 1st District, 1956 7
Albert J. Thorburn, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 1st District, 1964 7
Shona Thorburn (b. 1982), English-born, Canadian professional WNBA basketball player
June Thorburn (1931-1967), popular English actress whose life was cut short by an airplane crash in 1967
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, August 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html