Explore the Family Name Thorne
The meaning of Thorne
1. English (mainly southern): variant of Thorn 1. 2. Irish: adopted for various Irish names containing an element meaning ‘thorn’. Compare Thornton. 3. Swedish (mainly Thörne): ornamental or perhaps topographic name from törne ‘rose bush’ or thorn, an ornamental spelling of torn ‘thorn bush’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Thorne in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Thorne has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Thorne was ranked the 1812th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 1922nd position, representing a fall of 6.07%. However, in terms of the actual count of people with the surname, there was a modest increase of 2.83% from 18,222 in 2000 to 18,738 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a decrease from 6.75 to 6.35 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,812 | #1,922 | -6.07% |
| Count | 18,222 | 18,738 | 2.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 6.75 | 6.35 | -5.93% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Thorne
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insights into the ethnicity associated with the surname Thorne. Between 2000 and 2010, there were shifts in the ethnic identities linked to the surname. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders with the surname increased by 65.91%, and those identifying with two or more races grew by 43.71%. The proportion of individuals with the surname who identified as White decreased from 78.14% to 75.50%. There was also an increase in the Hispanic population with the surname, growing by 45.05%, while the Black population experienced a smaller growth of 4.42%. Lastly, there was a minor decrease of 5.21% in the American Indian and Alaskan Native group.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.14% | 75.5% | -3.38% |
| Black | 16.73% | 17.47% | 4.42% |
| Hispanic | 2.22% | 3.22% | 45.05% |
| Two or More Races | 1.51% | 2.17% | 43.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.96% | 0.91% | -5.21% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.44% | 0.73% | 65.91% |
Thorne ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Thorne is British & Irish, which comprises 51.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (23.9%) and Eastern European (3.9%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.5% |
| French & German | 23.9% |
| Eastern European | 3.9% |
| Other | 20.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Thorne
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Thorne have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 83.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 83.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 83.30% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 82.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 82.50% |
What Thorne haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Thorne is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z198 and I-Z60, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Grimm, West, Cross, Powell, Harrison, Simons, Webb, Crosby, Perry, Burgess.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Thorne surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Thorne have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Thorne" Surname 38.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Thorne" Surname 29.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Thorne" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Thorne" Surname 19.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Thorne?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Thorne are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition