Explore the Family Name Thornberry
The meaning of Thornberry
1. English (southwestern): habitational name from any of various places called Thornbury, in particular Thornbury (Gloucestershire), Thornbury (Herefordshire), or perhaps Thornbury (Devon), or Thornbury in Bradford (Yorkshire). These placenames derive from Old English thorn ‘thorn’ + burg ‘fortress’ or ‘manor’. 2. English: variant of Thornber. 3. Irish: adopted for various Irish names containing an element meaning ‘thorn’; compare Thornton.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Thornberry in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Thornberry saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 12,757th and fell to 13,646th by 2010, reflecting a 6.97% drop. The actual number of people with the Thornberry surname also marginally declined from 2,220 in 2000 to 2,219 in 2010. This has resulted in a decrease in the proportion per 100,000 individuals bearing this surname, from 0.82 to 0.75, marking an 8.54% reduction.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,757 | #13,646 | -6.97% |
| Count | 2,220 | 2,219 | -0.05% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.82 | 0.75 | -8.54% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Thornberry
When considering ethnicity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the Thornberry surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, making up 96.58% and 96.03% respectively. There was a negligible decrease in this percentage over the decade. However, the Hispanic representation among the Thornberrys saw an increase of 22.78%, growing from 1.58% in 2000 to 1.94% in 2010. Additionally, those identifying as belonging to two or more ethnic identities increased by 28.42%, from 0.95% in 2000 to 1.22% in 2010. No change was observed in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category, while no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in either of the years studied.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.58% | 96.03% | -0.57% |
| Hispanic | 1.58% | 1.94% | 22.78% |
| Two or More Races | 0.95% | 1.22% | 28.42% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.41% | 0.41% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |