Surname Thurch - Meaning and Origin

Thurch: What does the surname Thurch mean?

The last name Thurch is of English origin, and its meaning is thought to be derived from either an Old Norse personal name or an Old English place name. The Old Norse origin is suggested by the name Thurkr, which means "thief" in Old Norse. The Old English origin is suggested by the placename Thurcand, which means "enclosure on a slope".

The surname is most likely a nickname that would have been given to someone who did or resembled something that was associated with either a thief or a sloping enclosure. It could be that someone moved locations and acquired the surname as a result, or it could be that the name was derived from a distant ancestor who was associated with either a thief or an enclosure on a slope.

Surnames were usually associated to physical features of the individual or local customs associated with a geographical area. It could also indicate the trade or profession of ancestors.

The name Thurch can still be found primarily in England and Scotland today, and is not particularly common. It is interesting to note, however, that variations have spread across continents and are particularly common in the USA. The variations found there include Thurk, Thurkle, Thurckley, Turch and Thurcher.

Thurch: Where does the name Thurch come from?

The last name Thurch is not a particularly common name, even today. It is most commonly found in England, primarily in the East Midlands and Yorkshire regions near the English-Scottish border. It is also found in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

The name Thurch may have originated in Yorkshire, England as a topographic name for someone who lived near or on a thorn bush. Records of the name first appear in Yorkshire in 1207, when Thomas Thurch was listed in the Assize Court Rolls of the town of Wakefield.

The family of the current Duke of Norfolk, Henry Thurch, has a long shared history with the colloquially dubbed “mighty” Thuristic people, who are believed to have descended from the Thurch family. Thus, the name may also have connections with northeast Scotland and northern Ireland.

Additionally, the name is found in the United States, most predominantly in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Interestingly, some of the earliest known records of the Thurch surname in America come from the 1600s, around the same time that the Thurch family was the first to receive a Duke title in England.

Today, the surname Thurch is believed to be shared by approximately 1,900 people worldwide, with 70% of the population being found in the UK alone.

Variations of the surname Thurch

The surname Thurch is a variant spelling of the German surname Thurck, a topographic name for someone who lived in a forest, derived from the German word Thur, meaning forest or wood. The Thurch and Thurck surnames may also be derived from Thürch and Thürck, which were originally a German nickname for someone who was strong or burly.

Other variants of the surname include Thurk, Thurck, Thuerck, Thurich, Thurick, Thirk, and Thurg.

The surname may also appear as spelled with double letters, such as Thuerch, Thurrch, Thurrych, Thurych, or Tuerch.

In some cases, the surname Thurch may also have variants in spelling for other languages. In Dutch for example, it may appear as Thuerk, Thuerki, Thürk, Thürki, Thuryk, or Thuryki. In the Russian language, variants may include Turchuk, Turcik, Turchuk, Turchonok, or Turcpost.

Other surnames with roots similar to Thurch include Turchi, Turchin, Turcin, Thurkin, Thurken, and Turtle. These are all believed to be derived from the same origin.

In all, there are over fifty known variants for the surname Thurch, with many of them being considered to have the same origin. As time passes, the surname is likely to be increasingly seen with even more diverse spellings.

Famous people with the name Thurch

• Emma Thurch: Emma Thurch is a Korean singer, who has released two EPs titled "Malfunction" and "Ready?"
• Thomas Thurch: Thomas Thurch is an American actor, who has appeared in films such as War for the Planet of the Apes and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.
• Wade Thurch: Wade Thurch is an American professional wrestler, who has wrestled in the WWE under the ring names D-Von Dudley and Brother Ray.
• Robert Thurch: Robert Thurch is a British actor, who has appeared in films such as The King's Speech and Robin Hood.
• Marcus Thurch: Marcus Thurch is an American filmmaker, who has directed films such as Whip It and Room 143.
• Randell Thurch: Randell Thurch is an American musician, who was a former member of the band Little Texas.
• Peter Thurch: Peter Thurch is an English composer, who has composed music for various film and television series.
• Charles Thurch: Charles Thurch is an American painter, who is known for his abstract landscapes.
• Chad Thurch: Chad Thurch is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, who has released one EP titled "Drowning".
• Richard Thurch: Richard Thurch is an American basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for the Seattle Supersonics.

Other surnames

ThürckThurckeThürcke