Show ContentsThorsby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Thorsby family

The surname Thorsby was first found in Cumberland, the name derives from Gospatrick, Lord of Thoresby, from whom was descended Thomas Thoresby of Braithwaite in Cumberland. The village named Thursby is still there today and dates back to 1165 when it was recorded as Thoresby. The name is generally thought to have been derived from the personal name Thorir, and in the case of the village, would have meant "farmstead or village of a man called Thorir."1

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from "North and South Thoresby, parishes in Lincolnshire. The family claim Saxon origin, being derived from Gospatrick, lord of Thoresby, who was living at the time of the Conquest. " 2

John Thoresby (d. 1373), was Archbishop of York and Chancellor, the son of Hugh de Thoresby of Thoresby in Wensleydale, Yorkshire. "He seems to have been educated at Oxford, and as early as 15 Oct. 1320, when an acolyte, was presented to the living of Bramwith, Yorkshire, by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. " 3

Early History of the Thorsby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thorsby research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1658 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Thorsby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thorsby Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Thorsby, Thoresby Thorisbye, Thursby and others.

Early Notables of the Thorsby family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725), an English antiquary and topographer, the son of John Thoresby by his wife Ruth, daughter of Ralph Idle of Bulmer in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "His father was a Leeds wool and cloth merchant in good circumstances, who had served in the parliamentarian army under...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thorsby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Thorsby migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Thorsby Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Astrid Thorsby, aged 6, who arrived in America from Drammen, Norway, in 1908
  • Kirsten Thorsby, aged 33, who arrived in America from Drammen, Norway, in 1908

Contemporary Notables of the name Thorsby (post 1700) +

  • Anne Kristine Thorsby (b. 1962), Norwegian visual artist


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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