Surname Thieves - Meaning and Origin

Thieves: What does the surname Thieves mean?

The last name Thieves is believed to have originated in France, but its original meaning is unknown. It may have been derived from the Latin word 'furta' meaning 'theft', suggesting that the bearer of this name was either a thief or had an ancestor who was a thief. Alternatively, it may be a shortened form of 'Thiffault' or 'Thivault', which could refer to someone living in a place called 'Thieve' or in the region of Thievres.

As a surname, Thieves could suggest that the family was connected to property crime, either as an occupier or victim. It might also be a sign of an affluent family, whose members had the means to transport their goods and whose services could be hired for specialised transportation. Alternatively, it possibly indicated a family that was connected to the river navy or ships and barges, as 'thieves' were once a common feature of such vessels.

Originally, the surname Thieves may have been seen as a source of shame or dishonour to the family. However, as time passed, the meaning of the name has changed and become less negative. It may now indicate a sense of pride in the achievements of an ancestor or a reminder to remain honest in dealings.

Thieves: Where does the name Thieves come from?

The last name Thieves is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in areas with large French-speaking populations. It is also sometimes found in other parts of the world, including Canada, Latin America, and Europe.

The origin of the surname is derived from the old French word "theif", which means "thief". The surname is believed to have been first used as an occupational name for a thief in medieval France and was a status symbol intended to indicate that the bearer was from a noble family. It is possible that the surname eventually spread around the world due to the increased mobility that was available through the development of the shipping industry in the 17th century.

The current population of individuals bearing the surname Thieves in the United States is estimated at around 14,000, although it is difficult to determine an exact number since there are many spelling variations of the name. The highest concentrations of the surname can be found in the states of Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The location with the highest concentration of the surname is the city of Baton Rouge in Louisiana, which is home to over 1,500 individuals bearing the last name.

Given the unique origin, as well as the historically low population of individuals with the surname, it is safe to say that the last name Thieves is still quite uncommon today.

Variations of the surname Thieves

The surname Thieves has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Variants of the Thieves surname include Thieviss, Theviss, and Thivas. A common spelling variant is Thievs, which focuses more on the letter “v” in the spelling of the last name. Surnames of the same origin include Thaives, Thaives-Cross, and Thaives-Barley.

Variants of the surname that focus more on the “e” in the spelling of the last name include Thieves, Theoivs, Theves, Theefes, and Thieve. These spelling variants are often found in records that predate widespread literacy or when the surname was written phonetically by someone unfamiliar with the spelling of the last name.

Variants of the Thieves surname that focus more on the “h” in the spelling of the last name include Thiebesh, Thiebus, Thiebusch, and Thiebush. All of these variants are likely derivatives of the original surname.

Surnames of the same origin as Thieves include Theefes, Theviss, and Thievs. These surname variants likely began as regional or dialectal pronunciations of the original surname.

Finally, a few other surnames that may share the same origin as Thieves include Thiebault, Thiebaud, and Thiebus. All of these surnames can have their roots traced to the same origin, but the exact meaning and origin of these variations remain unclear.

Famous people with the name Thieves

• Kasey Keller: American soccer goalkeeper
• Ella Yelich-O'Connor (a.k.a. Lorde): Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter
• Richard Thieves: English footballer
• John Thieves: Australian NBA player
• Matthew Thieves: British Formula One racing driver
• Isiah Thomas: American former NBA player, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
• Joshua Thieves: American actor and singer
• Christina Thieves: American actress
• Farida Thieves: Moroccan-American comedian
• Larry Thieves: American director, producer, and screenwriter

Other surnames

ThievessenThieveßen