Explore the Family Name Thor
The meaning of Thor
1. Swedish and Danish: from a short form of any of various Scandinavian personal names containing the first element Thor (Old Norse Thórr), the name of the god of thunder in Scandinavian mythology. 2. English: from the Anglo-Scandinavian name Thōr, Thūr, probably short forms of Old Norse compound names in Thór-, Thúr- (see 1 above). 3. German: topographic name for someone who lived by the gates of a town or a metonymic occupational name for someone responsible for guarding them, from Middle High German tor ‘gate’ (modern German Tor). Compare Portmann. 4. German: nickname from Middle Low German dor, Middle High German tor ‘fool’; also ‘deaf person’. 5. Southeast Asian (Hmong): variant of Thao. Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Erik, Erland, Eyvind, Nels. Southeast Asian Chor, Tong, Chia, Chu, Kong, Seng, Tou, Chee, Ching, Chou, Chue, Eng, Thai, Moua, Neng, Pao, Yeng, Yer, Blong, Chong, Choua, Houa, Shoua, Soua.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Thor in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Thor' has seen an upward trend in the United States between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 12,737th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had climbed to the 11,197th position, representing a change of 12.09%. The number of individuals with this surname has also increased during this time period from 2,225 in 2000 to 2,823 in 2010, marking a growth rate of 26.88%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,737 | #11,197 | 12.09% |
| Count | 2,225 | 2,823 | 26.88% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.82 | 0.96 | 17.07% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Thor
When reviewing the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Thor', changes can also be observed over the same decade, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority of people with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, increasing from 55.78% in 2000 to 61.49% in 2010. This represents a rise of 10.24%. However, those identifying as having two or more ethnic identities decreased significantly from 3.15% to 1.7%, a drop of 46.03%. White individuals with the 'Thor' surname saw a decrease of 14.45%, from 39.87% to 34.11%. The presence of Hispanic and Black communities among those with this surname grew marginally, with the former seeing a new emergence of 1.38% and the latter doubling from 0.54% to 1.13%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category also emerged at 0.18% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 55.78% | 61.49% | 10.24% |
| White | 39.87% | 34.11% | -14.45% |
| Two or More Races | 3.15% | 1.7% | -46.03% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.38% | 0% |
| Black | 0.54% | 1.13% | 109.26% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.18% | 0% |