Explore the Family Name Thwaites

The meaning of Thwaites

English: from the northern English placename Thwaite (Old Norse thveit ‘meadow, paddock’) + plural or post-medieval excrescent -s. The plural form is found in several placenames, including Thwaites in Keighley (Yorkshire), which is a principal source of the surname.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Thwaites in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Thwaites has seen a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, this surname was ranked as the 48,109th most common name in America but jumped up to the 41,886th position in 2010, indicating a change of approximately 12.94%. The count of individuals bearing this surname also saw an increase, with 413 in 2000 and growing to 519 in 2010, a rise of about 25.67%. This corresponds to an increase in proportion per 100,000 people from 0.15 to 0.18, a 20% increment.

20002010Change
Rank#48,109#41,88612.94%
Count41351925.67%
Proportion per 100k0.150.1820%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Thwaites

When discussing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Thwaites, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. While the majority of those carrying this surname identified as White (80.87% in 2000, decreasing to 71.29% in 2010), there was notable growth in representation among other ethnicities. Those identifying as Black or African American increased from 14.53% to 20.04%, reflecting a change of around 37.92%. Meanwhile, individuals who identified as belonging to two or more races grew from 2.91% in 2000 to 4.82% in 2010, a substantial 65.64% increase. Interestingly, there was no data for Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native identities, and the Hispanic category only showed data for 2010 at 2.70%.

20002010Change
White80.87%71.29%-11.85%
Black14.53%20.04%37.92%
Two or More Races2.91%4.82%65.64%
Hispanic0%2.7%0%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%