Surname Thon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Thon: What does the surname Thon mean?
The last name Thon is of German origin and it mainly traces back to Bavaria, a state in the southeastern part of Germany. The name literally translates to "pine" in English, indicative of profession or location associated with pine forests or pine products, probably a "marker" or "timberman". It falls under the category of occupational surnames, which were derived from the primary forms of employment of the name's original bearer. While it is not one of the most common names in Germany, you will still find a number of people with this surname, particularly in Bavarian regions. It depicts the rich cultural heritage and ancient history of Germany. Its variants include Thone, Thoma, Thoman, Thoms, and Thome. Notably, people with the last name Thon have immigrated to various parts of the world over centuries, so it can be found in countries like the US, Australia, and Canada among others. Many famous individuals bear this surname, such as French painter Louis Thon and Canadian professional basketball player Jonathan Thon.
Order DNA origin analysisThon: Where does the name Thon come from?
The surname Thon is most commonly found today in Germany, where it ranks in the top 500 surnames. In particular, it is prominent in the state of Hamburg, where it is in the top 50. It is also widespread in the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland. Outside of these two countries, Thon is less common, but is still found in Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, France, and the United States.
The origin of the Thon surname is unclear. It may be derived from the name of the Germanic ‘Thunn,’ meaning ‘tiller of the soil’. Alternatively, it could be a variation of the Dutch name ‘Thoon’, which is derived from the Dutch word for ‘heathen’. Lastly, the surname could have originated from multiple sources, due to the many languages spoken in the countries where the surname is now most commonly found.
Most Thon family members can trace their roots back to Germany and the Netherlands, though there are some exceptions. For those who do trace their heritage back to these countries, they will likely have ancestors who were agricultural workers, as many with the Thon surname were traditionally involved in farming. However, many of the same family names may now be found in the trades, the sciences, and even in politics, due to the many changes that have occurred over the past century.
Variations of the surname Thon
The surname Thon is derived from the Germanic personal name Thuron, Thurn, and Thuon. It is believed that the surname originated during the Middle Ages in Germany as a nickname for someone who was tall or thin.
Variations of the surname Thon include Thun, Ton, Thuon, Thune, Thurn, Thurne, Thuen, and Thunen. Some other modern spelling variants of Thon are Thoen, Thoan, Thohon, Thorin, and Thurn. In addition, some immigrants with the Thon surname may have adapted their name slightly to adapt to different language systems. For example, Thon may be spelled as Thonn when used in French.
Surnames of the same origin as Thon include Thoms, Thonn, Tombs, Tons, Turn, Thurm, Tronn, and Thuron. These are all variants of Thon from different languages and regions.
In summary, the surname Thon is derived from the Germanic personal name Thuron and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The variants include Thun, Ton, Thuon, Thune, Thurn, Thurne, Thuen, and Thunen. Other modern spellings include Thoen, Thoan, Thohon, Thorin, and Thurn. Surnames of the same origin include Thoms, Thonn, Tombs, Tons, Turn, Thurm, Tronn, and Thuron.
Famous people with the name Thon
- Gideon Thon: Former Israeli judoka and Olympic bronze medalist.
- Tine Thing Helseth: renowned Norwegian trumpet player.
- Jonas Thon: Former Norwegian mayor.
- Sonja Henie: Norwegian figure skater and actress.
- Andreas Thon: German former modern pentathlete.
- Thomas Thon: German hurdler.
- Frantz Walter Thon: Former Luxembourg's Prime Minister.
- Thon Maker: Sudanese professional basketball player currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Erich Thon: German physicist and chemist.
- Loretta Thon: German actress.
- Igor Thon: Slovakian water polo player.