Surname Thön - Meaning and Origin
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Thön: What does the surname Thön mean?
The last name Thön is of German origin and is most commonly found in southern Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is derived from the German word "thon," meaning "soil," and likely originally referred to someone who worked in soil-related industries, such as farming or forestry.
It is believed that the Thön family has roots in Germany since the 1300s, when the majority of families assumed hereditary surnames. The Thön surname has likely been present in Germany since at least the 1500s, thanks to the acknowledgment of the name in several old documents. The earliest known documentation is from 1559, when the name appears in Bavarian records as "Thon."
The name Thön is a somewhat uncommon name in Germany today; however, it is carried by families in other parts of Europe and those who have emigrated to other countries, such as the United States and Canada. Some descendants of the Thön family have adopted anglicized versions of the name, such as "Thon," "Toon," or "Thou." In modern times, the use of the Thön name remains in its original form in some parts of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisThön: Where does the name Thön come from?
The last name Thön is most common in Germany, where it is ranked 81,337th in terms of population. It is estimated that there are approximately 3,010 people bearing this last name throughout the country.
The distribution of Thön in Germany is primarily concentrated in Saxony-Anhalt (1771), followed closely by Saxony (1177) and North Rhine-Westphalia (178). This is typical for a last name of German origin, since it was mainly spread among Saxon settlers during medieval times.
Furthermore, the last name Thön is also present in Belarus (5), the Netherlands (4), Russia (2) and France (1). More seldomly, it can be found in Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Switzerland. It can even be found in the United States, where it is being used by 11 people.
Familysearch.org holds more detailed information about the population of Thön in specific regions and even villages. It can be found mainly in the states of Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia in Germany, as well as the capital Berlin.
Overall, the last name Thön is quite widespread today, with the highest frequency of individuals bearing it residing in Germany.
Variations of the surname Thön
The surname Thön is an occupational name derived from the Middle German 'tone' meaning a gardener. It is also known to have derived from the Old High German 'thun*. Variants of this surname are often found with German dialects and include Tohne, Tonn, Tohn, Toon, Tohne, Thon, Thohen and Thohne. Spellings of the name Thön have been found to include Thoen, Thone, Thoeness and Thonn. Other surnames of the same origin are bound to draw from the same variants and spellings of the given name.
The surname Thön may have evolved into other variants concerning different regions and countries they have migrated to, such as Tun, Tone, Ton, Thune, Thonen, Thunn and Thonn. The spelling of the surname may also have been changed to fit different languages, such as Tonea in Romania, Tonin in Croatia, Tonev in Bulgaria and Tunnes in Finland.
In addition, as with any surname, there is also the potential for derivatives from maiden names or nicknames, such as Thunig, Thoenecke, Tonner and Thonig. Furthermore, the creation of new surnames and variations of existing ones are present, so other surnames of the same origin may include Thonar, Theonr, Thona, Thoda, and Thund.
Over time, spellings and variants of the surname Thön certainly evolved and the names themselves continue to exist in many countries and regions today.
Famous people with the name Thön
- Berthold Thön: He was a German judge and politician who served on the Constitutional Court from 1951 to 1957.
- Anna Thön: She was a German actor and theater director active in the early 20th century.
- Guenther Thön: He is a German international football referee who officiated at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 UEFA Euro.
- Christian Thön: He is a German sculptor and designer who is known for his architectural works and his sculptures in public and private spaces.
- Jörg Thön: He is a German journalist, author and photographer.
- Richard Thön: He is a German swimmer who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
- Helmut Thön: He is a former German handball player who won two Olympic gold medals.
- Johann Thön: He is a German actor, singer and songwriter.
- Lena Thön: She is a German stage and screen actress.
- Franz Thön: He is a former German footballer who played for Hamburger SV and Erzgebirge Aue.