Surname Thone - Meaning and Origin
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Thone: What does the surname Thone mean?
The last name Thone is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "Thon" which means "clay." Thone was historically an occupational surname given to people who worked with clay or pottery, indicating they were either potters, brick makers, or dwelled in clay-rich areas. However, like many surnames, the meaning could vary across regions and time periods. It might also relate to a geographic area or specific family lineage. While the surname is found in visitors to or residents in various countries, it is most prevalent in Germany, followed by the United States. In some instances, people with this surname could have French origins, where it is derived from Thonon, a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Regardless of its origins, it represents ancestral connections spanning multiple generations and geographic locations.
Order DNA origin analysisThone: Where does the name Thone come from?
The last name Thone is primarily found in Europe, especially in the north and east. It is a localized family name, with the largest populations of Thone holders found in Germany and Denmark. Smaller populations of the name are also found in France, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic.
In Germany, there are approximately 20,000 people in the country with the last name Thone. Most of those are located in the southern and western parts of the country, with a large population located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Denmark has the second highest concentration of people with the last name Thone, with more than 8,000 living in the country. This is followed by the United Kingdom, where about 2,100 people have the name; France, with nearly 1,000; and finally the Czech Republic, which has 300 Thones.
The Thone family name is most likely derived either from the Dutch word "twee", meaning two, or from the Germanic goddess named Thonar. It might also be related to the German words "Thunfisch", meaning tuna in English, or “Donner”, meaning thunder.
In terms of other countries, the last name Thone is very rare. There is a small population in the United States, with fewer than 200 Thones reported, and the same is true for Australia.
Thone is not a particularly common name today, but it still has a strong presence in Northern and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Thone
The surname Thone is derived from the German language, in which it is an alternate spelling of the more common Thon or Thön. The Thone surname is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The surname is alternately spelled Thoen, Thoenen, Thon, Thonemann, Thonemannen, Thoenes, Thoine, Thonet, Thonets, Thöne, Thoeners, Thoenes, Thöner, Thonning, and Thonings.
The surname is also found in the Netherlands and Belgium, where the first written record of the surname in the Netherlands dates back to 1417 in the city of Amsterdam. In Belgium, the most common spelling is Thoen, with records dating back to 1547.
In the United States, the Thone surname is of Dutch, German, or Flemish origins. The first known occurrence of the surname in the United States was in the 1800s, when a Johannes Thone immigrated to Pennsylvania. In the 20th century, variations of the surname in the United States included Thoen, Thoenen, Thon, Thonet, Thonets, Thöne, Thoeners, Thonning, and Thonings.
The Thone surname is also found in France and other countries across Europe. In France, the surname is typically spelled Thon or Thonin and is found in the region of Aquitaine. In Scandinavia, the surname is usually spelled Thöne. In the United Kingdom, the Thone surname is most often found in Scotland, primarily in the Highlands. The spelling of the surname in Scotland is usually Thoine or Thonian.
Overall, the Thone surname is a common one with many variations and spellings. It has been found in many countries across Europe, and its origins lie in the German language.
Famous people with the name Thone
- Meg Thone: Meg Thone is an American politician, serving her sixth term in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. She is the second off-reservation Native American ever elected in the Nebraska Legislature.
- Michael Thone: Michael Thone is a German businessman and entrepreneur. He is a former CEO and Chairman of the board of the automotive company Continental AG.
- Hermann Thone: Hermann Thone was a German physicist who made important contributions to X-ray crystallography and played a key role in providing the theoretical foundations for the field of quantum mechanics.
- Jamie Lee Curtis Thone: Jamie Lee Curtis Thone is an actress and author from the United States who is best known for her roles in the films Halloween, A Fish Called Wanda, and Freaky Friday.
- Stephan Thone: Stephan Thone is a former defender of the Köln soccer club who now serves as the team's sporting director.
- Andreas Thone: Andreas Thone is a Dutch actor. He is best known for his role in the television series British Empire, playing the part of a slave trader.
- Christine Thone: Christine Thone is a Canadian voice actress, best known for her work in animated series such as the Darkwing Duck cartoon.
- Jakub Thone: Jakub Thone is a Czech professional footballer who currently plays for MFK Frýdek-Místek.
- Klaus Thone: Klaus Thone is a Luxembourgian physician and politician who served as the Minister of Health between 1968 and 1974.
- Peder Thone: Peder Thone is a Norwegian playwright and theater director. He is best known for his plays The Extraordinary Ordinary Plight of Elinor which won the National Prize for Drama in 2005.