Show ContentsThurgate History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Thurgate are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived 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 Thurgate family

The surname Thurgate 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 Thurgate family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thurgate 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 Thurgate History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thurgate Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Thurgate has been spelled many different ways, including Thoroughgood, Throwgrood, Thorowgood, Thorogood, Toogood and many more.

Early Notables of the Thurgate 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 Thurgate Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Thurgate migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Thurgates to arrive in North America:

Thurgate Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Minnie Thurgate, aged 22, who arrived in America, in 1893
Thurgate Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alice Thurgate, aged 20, who arrived in America from London, in 1906

Contemporary Notables of the name Thurgate (post 1700) +

  • Nicole Thurgate, American Biology Professor at the University of New Orleans
  • Stephen Thurgate, Australian Researcher at Macquarie University Faculty of Science Sydney, Australia
  • Dr Nikki Thurgate, Australian director of the Multi-Scale Plot Network facility of TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network) at The University of Adelaide


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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