Show ContentsThurgood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Thurgood family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name Thurgod, an ancient font name. 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 Thurgood family

The surname Thurgood was first found in Hertfordshire where they were descended from Turgod, "a Domesday [Book] baptismal appellation" [1] and the name has often been confounded with Toogood.

Early History of the Thurgood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thurgood research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1647, 1660, 1667, 1669, 1683, 1700, 1715 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Thurgood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thurgood Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Thurgood include Thoroughgood, Throwgrood, Thorowgood, Thorogood, Toogood and many more.

Early Notables of the Thurgood family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Thorowgood; and Richard Towgood (1595?-1683), an English Royalist clerygman, Dean of Bristol (1667-1683.)Michaijah Towgood (1700-1792), was an English dissenting minister, born at Axminster, Devonshire, and was the second son of Michaijah...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thurgood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Thurgood migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Thurgood were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Thurgood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. William Thurgood, aged 13, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" [2]
Thurgood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ann Thurgood, aged 25, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Bunk Ann Hanly" in 1847 [3]
  • Abraham Thurgood, aged 15, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Amazon" in 1863 [3]
  • Thomas Thurgood, aged 28, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1864 [3]
  • Sarah Thurgood, aged 27, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1864 [3]
  • Thos Thurgood, aged 28, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "St Louisiana" in 1864 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Thurgood migration to Australia +

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

Thurgood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Thurgood, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
  • Mr. Joseph Thurgood, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [5]
  • Charles Thurgood, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"
  • Mr. Isaac Thurgood, English convict who was convicted in Chelmsford, Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clara" on 28th January 1864, arriving in Western Australia, Australia [6]
Thurgood Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Denis Thurgood, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Fairsea" in 1959 [7]
  • Derek Thurgood, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Fairsea" in 1959 [7]
  • John Thurgood, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Fairsea" in 1959 [7]
  • Kathleen Thurgood, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Fairsea" in 1959 [7]
  • Maureen Thurgood, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Fairsea" in 1959 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Thurgood (post 1700) +

  • Graham Thurgood, American professor at California State University, Chico
  • Neil Jonathan Thurgood (b. 1977), former English cricketer
  • Stuart Anthony Thurgood (b. 1981), English professional footballer
  • Josh Thurgood (b. 1985), former Australian rules footballer
  • Albert John "The Great" Thurgood (1874-1927), Australian rules footballer
  • Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), American jurist, first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Thurgood Marshall Jr. (b. 1956), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1996; Assistant to Pres. Bill Clinton, 1997-2001 [8]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  3. Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canton
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara
  7. National Archives of Australia Retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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