Surname Thurlin - Meaning and Origin

Thurlin: What does the surname Thurlin mean?

The last name Thurlin is of Germanic origin, derived from the word “þurh”, which means “through”. Over the centuries, Thurlin has been used as a given name and surname in various countries. In the United Kingdom, records of the surname stretch back as far as the 1500s.

The meaning of the name Thurlin is associated with characteristics of courage and strength. It is believed that those bearing the Thurlin surname were thought to be brave and determined individuals, who were willing to go through life's struggles and hardships. The surname Thurlin is also believed to be connected to the values, experiences, and attitudes of what it means to be a fight for justice and fairness.

As a last name, Thurlin is now used in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and France. The popularity of the name increased in the 19th century with immigration to these countries.

In addition to being a surname, Thurlin is also a female and male first name. It has more recently been given as an Irish or Scottish Christian name.

Thurlin: Where does the name Thurlin come from?

The last name Thurlin is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the US census, as of 2019 there were 4,282 people with the Thurlin surname living in the United States. It’s popularity is highest in California, with 735 people listed as having the Thurlin surname. New York has 685 with the Thurlin last name. The states of Utah, Texas, and Florida followed with 540, 339, and 314 Thurlins respectively. Interestingly, the Thurlin last name is also picked up in Canada, with 218 people recorded with the name in the 2016 census.

The origins of the Thurlin surname are believed to have originated from a medieval name derived from the old English Thor, which means thunder. It’s an apt origin for the thunder-like sound of a last name that the English might have found difficult to pronounce.

The Thurlin name has been carried through multiple generations, which suggest that it has a long family history within the United States and other countries. You may also see the spelling Thurlynn used in some instances. For a relatively uncommon last name, the Thurlin name is quite widely dispersed throughout the United States and beyond.

Variations of the surname Thurlin

The surname Thurlin is an English-speaking name of German origins. It is thought to be a variant of the name Terlinden. It can be found spelled as Thurlin, Thurlen, Thurlyn, Thirlin, Thirlen, Thurleen and Thirlinden.

The Thurlen spelling is particularly widespread across the US, Canada and Australia. Variants Thurlyn, Thirlin, Thirlen are more commonly found in the UK. It is often spelled Thurleen in Scotland.

An alternate spelling of the name is Terlyne or Terlinden, which is common in Germany. It is a derivative of the name Tarlentine, which is a reference to a place of threshing or a threshing floor in German.

In terms of other surnames with the same origin, there are several variants, including Torlyn, Thorland, Thorlandson and Thorley. Torlyn is a variant of Terlinden and is found primarily in the US, Canada and Australia. Similarly, Thorland and Thorlandson are variants of the Germanic Thorley while the Thorley surname is derived from the word Thor, which was also the name of the Norse God of Thunder.

In any case, the surname Thurlin is likely to originate from either the Germanic Terlyne or the English Thorley variants.

Famous people with the name Thurlin

• Benjamin Thurlin: an American singer and songwriter
• Don Thurlin: an American television actor and director
• Sonny Thurlin: an American basketball player
• Margie Thurlin: a Canadian visual artist
• Philip Thurlin: a Swedish film director
• Scott Thurlin: an American voice actor and screenwriter
• Richard Thurlin: a British archaeologist
• Edward Thurlin: an American artist and sculptor
• Tom Thurlin: an American stuntman and actor
• Carol Thurlin: a Danish sports therapist
• Eric Thurlin: a French author and editor
• Nick Thurlin: a Dutch sculptor
• Julie Thurlin: an Australian landscape designer
• Chad Thurlin: an American mixed martial artist
• Chris Thurlin: an American actor
• Mark Thurlin: a British poet and animal rights activist
• Mandy Thurlin: a Canadian costume designer
• Tony Thurlin: an Irish environmental engineer
• Jean Thurlin: a New Zealand biologist
• Alice Thurlin: an American fashion designer.

Other surnames

ThurlkillThurlow