Show ContentsThwayte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Thwayte 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

Early Origins of the Thwayte family

The surname Thwayte was first found in Norfolk at Thwaite, a parish in the union of Aylsham, hundred of South Erpingham. There is another parish named Thwaite in the union of Loddon and Clavering, hundred of Loddon in Norfolk. Over in Suffolk, Thwaite is a parish, in the union and hundred of Hartismer and further to the north, Thwaites is a chapelry, in the parish of Millom, union of Bootle, Allerdale ward above Derwent, W. division of Cumberland. 2

The earliest known record of the family 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.

Early History of the Thwayte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thwayte research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1301, 1379, 1435, 1441, 1445, 1446, 1453, 1471, 1478, 1483, 1490, 1493, 1503, 1638, 1723, 1740, 1797 and 1824 are included under the topic Early Thwayte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thwayte 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 Thwayte family

Notable amongst bearers of this family name during their early history was

  • Robert Thwaytes (b. 1824), a mathematician and natural philosopher

Migration of the Thwayte family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Alexander Thwaites, who settled in Boston, Massachussets in 1635; Francis Thwaytes, who traveled to Maryland in 1638; Mary Thwait, who immigrated to Virginia in 1662.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook