Surname Thorell - Meaning and Origin
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Thorell: What does the surname Thorell mean?
The surname Thorell is of Swedish origin, deriving from two Swedish words. 'Thor' is a name referring to the Norse god of thunder, strength, and war, while the element 'ell' may be a diminutive suffix or could relate to 'häll', meaning 'rock or stone'. So, in the context of its Nordic roots, the name Thorell might be interpreted as "Thor's rock" or "little Thor". Like many surnames, this name was likely initially a nickname or descriptor for a person, possibly someone who was strong or warlike like the god Thor, or a person who was steadfast and unmovable like a rock. Remember, meanings of surnames can be speculative based on their most likely linguistic origins and may not necessarily indicate any characteristic of individuals with this surname today.
Order DNA origin analysisThorell: Where does the name Thorell come from?
The last name Thorell is mainly found and concentrated in Sweden, one of the Nordic countries in Northern Europe. According to the Swedish government statistics, the number of Thorells living in Sweden is 8,442. It is the 596th most common name in Sweden, surpassing the name of 8,000 other surnames.
The Thorells are mainly found in the south-western region of Sweden, with the highest concentrations in Vastra Gotaland and Halland counties, both of which are in the west-central part of the country. Smaller numbers are also found in other regions of Sweden, such as Stockholm, Uppland, and Sodermanland. The numbers have increased only slightly over the years, but the name has held its relative position in the top 600 Swedish surnames for a long time.
Due to Swedish emigration, Thorells can now also be found around the world, primarily in places with large Scandinavian populations, such as the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. It is also found in parts of Europe with a Scandinavian diaspora. For example, Thorells are found in Finland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
Overall, the surname Thorell has a strong connection to its Swedish origins and the descendants of the original Swedish Thorells can still be found mainly in Sweden today.
Variations of the surname Thorell
The surname Thorell is derived from the Old Norse personal name Torvald, meaning “thunder ruler.” It is also spelled Thorald, Thurell, Thurel, Thurrell, and Thorel. Variants of the surname include Torvall, Torville, Turville, and Torvell.
Additionally, certain English versions of this Norse name have become known as Darrell, Durrell, and their derivatives.
In Sweden, the common variants of the surname include Thorell, Thordal, Thoring, Thorin, Torin, Thorald, Thorlin, and Torvall. These variants often appear with the addition of a double "l" (Thorell) when the name has become anglicised.
In Scotland, the surname is spelled Thurlö, and it is known as Thurley in England. Alternative forms of the name have also been documented in Sweden, such as Torvalds, Tordal, Tördahl, and Thördahl.
In Norway, Calonius's book 'Fragmenta Genealogica' mentions people who bore the surname Thoney. It is likely that this surname is a form of Thorell. Other examples of Norwegian variants of the surname include Torald, Thoresen, Torvald, Thorsen, Torstensen, Thuresson, Thurasen, Toresen, and Thoreson.
In Finland, variants of the surname Thorell include Thore, Thorsell, Thores, and Torsell.
In Denmark, variants of the surname include Thor and Thorup.
The surname also exists in Iceland as Thoralld. It is sometimes found with the double "l", such as Thorall and Thorrell.
In the United States, people with this last name descend mostly from Swedish immigrants and generally spell their name Thorell. In Australia, the surname is usually spelled Thurlow.
Hence, the surname Thorell and its variations span multiple countries and continents, with a variety of spellings.
Famous people with the name Thorell
- Emily Thorell: Swedish actress and television presenter.
- Rolf Thorell: Swedish footballer and coach.
- Eva Thorell: Swedish actress.
- Lise Thorell: Swedish film and stage actress.
- Lars Thorell: Swedish playwright and director.
- Nils Thorell: Swedish historian and author.
- Ann-Christin Thorell: former Swedish curler.
- Henrik Thorell: Swedish journalist and author.
- Robert Thorell: Swedish zoologist and entomologist.
- August Thorell: Swedish naturalist and explorer.