Show ContentsThwaites History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Thwaites is thought to have emerged in the border region between North England and Scotland. It is derived from the Old Norse "pveit," meaning "meadow, piece of land." Thus, the name originally referred to a "dweller at the meadow." [1]

Thwaite as a parish can be found in Norfolk, Suffolk and as Thwaites in Cumberland. [2]

Early Origins of the Thwaites family

The surname Thwaites was first found in Norfolk. The earliest known bearer of the name was Ralph del Thweit, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1206. Ralph de Tweit was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1221 and later, Alan del Thweit was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. [3] The name later emerged in the northern county of Yorkshire, borne by a notable family.

Later in Scotland, the Twatt variant was "a surname common to both Orkney and Shetland. The Twatts of Orkney may derive their surname from Twatt in Birsay, and the Twatts of Shetland from Twatt in the parish of Aithsting. John Twatt or Tuait raised an action at law against the rest of the heirs of Twat in 1563, and in 1580 there is recorded a wadset by Magnus Tuait." [4]

Early History of the Thwaites family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thwaites research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1301, 1379, 1435, 1441, 1445, 1446, 1453, 1471, 1478, 1483, 1490, 1493, 1503, 1624, 1638, 1677, 1723, 1740, 1797 and 1824 are included under the topic Early Thwaites History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thwaites Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Thwaites, Thwaits, Thwaite, Thweat, Thweatt, Thwaytes, Twaite, Twaites, Twaits, Tweats, Thoytes, Thwayte, Threet, Threat and many more.

Early Notables of the Thwaites family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir Thomas Thwaites (c.1435-1503), Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1471 to 1483, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1478 to 1483, and Treasurer of Calais from 1483 to 1490, was knighted in 148...
  • Francis Thwaites (1638-1723), a British priest
  • Captain Joseph Thwaites (d. 1797), a pirate


United States Thwaites migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Thwaites Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Alexander Thwaites, who settled in Boston, Massachussets in 1635
Thwaites Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Esther Thwaites, who settled in Philadelphia in 1803

Australia Thwaites migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Thwaites Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Thwaites, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Recovery" in 1839 [5]
  • Mr. William Thwaites, (b. 1821), aged 21, English convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 10 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1878 [6]
  • Thomas M. Thwaites, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Indian" [7]
  • Caroline A. Thwaites, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Indian" [7]
  • Thomas M. Thwaites, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indian" in 1849 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Thwaites 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:

Thwaites Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Thwaites, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harwood" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 4th November 1858 [8]
  • Miss Jane Thwaites, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Spray of the Ocean" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st September 1859 [9]
  • Miss Margaret E Thwaites, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Spray of the Ocean" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st September 1859 [9]
  • Mr. George B Thwaites, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Spray of the Ocean" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st September 1859 [9]
  • Miss Ellen Thwaites, (b. 1838), aged 22, English settler from Middlesex travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Thwaites (post 1700) +

  • Reuben Gold Thwaites (1853-1913), American historical writer
  • General Sir William Thwaites KCB KCMG (1868-1947), British Director of Military Intelligence (1918-1923), Commander of the British Army of the Rhine (1927-1929)
  • Robinson Thwaites (1807-1884), English founder of Robinson Thwaites and Co, Thwaites and Carbutt and Thwaites Brothers
  • Sir John Thwaites (1815-1870), British politician, the first Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works
  • Johnstone William "John" Thwaites (b. 1955), former Australian politician, 22nd Deputy Premier of Victoria (1999-2007)
  • John Anthony Thwaites (1909-1981), British art critic and author
  • John Barrass "Jack" Thwaites (1902-1986), British Australian pioneer Tasmanian bushwalker and conservationist
  • Denis Thwaites (1944-2015), English professional footballer
  • David Barry Thwaites (b. 1976), British actor and producer
  • Caitlin Thwaites (b. 1986), Australian two-time gold medalist netball and volleyball player
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Royal Oak
  • Raymond William Thwaites (1916-1939), British Telegraphist with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [10]


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RECOVERY from London 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Recovery.htm
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emily
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The INDIAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Indian.htm
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook