Show ContentsThirkle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Thirkle surname is derived from an Old Norse personal name, which was in common use throughout England during the Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Thirkle family

The surname Thirkle was first found in Yorkshire where the family name was first referenced in the 11th century when they held estates in that shire. 1

Thurkill, Thorkill or Turgesius (d. 845), was the Danish king of North Ireland and presumed to have been the son of Harold Harfagr as Snorri Sturleson. "He has, however, with more probability been identified with Ragnar Lodbrok, the half-mythical king of Denmark and Norway. As Thurkill he arrived in Ireland with a royal fleet in 832. He took Dublin in the same year, and afterwards assumed the government of all the northmen in Ireland. A few years later, perhaps in 841, Thurkill drove out the abbot of Armagh and assumed the abbacy. in 845, he was taken prisoner by Malachy, then king of Meath (afterwards king of Ireland), and drowned in Loch Owel in what is now Westmeath. " 2

His brother, Thurkill or Thorkill (fl. 1009), was a Danish invader, is said to have come to England to avenge a brother, possibly one of the victims of the massacre of St. Brice's Day, 13 Nov. 1002. 2

Roger de Thurkilbi (d. 1260), was an early English judge, the son and heir of Thomas de Thurkilbi, who took his name from a hamlet in the parish of Kirby Grindalyth in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 2

Early History of the Thirkle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thirkle research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1415, 1420, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Thirkle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thirkle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Thirkell, Thirkeld, Thirkill, Thirkel, Thirkle, Thirkill, Therkle, Therkill, Therkill, Therkill, Therkeld, Thurkell, Thurkettel, Thurkettle, Thirkettle, Thurtle, Thorkill, Thurkill, Thirhill, Therkhill, Turkell, Tirkell, Terkill, Turgell, Turgill, Tergill, Toghill, Tirchell, Tirchill and many more.

Early Notables of the Thirkle family

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


United States Thirkle migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Thirkle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Thirkle, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 3

Canada Thirkle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Thirkle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Thirkle, who was on record in Prince Edward county, Ontario sometime between 1851 and 1852


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. 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)


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