Surname Thurman - Meaning and Origin

The iGENEA DNA Test: A Redefinition of the Thurman Surname and Its Heritage Impact

After taking the iGENEA DNA test, my understanding of personal identity and heritage drastically changed. The fixation on the significance of my surname 'Thurman' expanded to a realization of a confluence of multiple lineages. Instead of perceiving 'Thurman' as merely a family tag, it now represents a mosaic of diverse ancestral links.

V. Thurman

Thurman: What does the surname Thurman mean?

The surname Thurman is of Old Norse origin and is derived from the personal name Thormund, which combines two elements - 'Thor', the name of the Norse god of thunder, and 'mund', meaning 'protection' or 'guardian'. Thus, the last name Thurman can be interpreted to mean 'Thor's protection' or 'guardian of Thor'. This name was popular among the Vikings and was brought to England during the Viking invasions. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of the name evolved into its present form. It is also prevalent in Germany, the Netherlands and other Northern European countries, either as a first name or a surname. Notably, it experienced a surge in popularity in the 19th century during a revival of interest in Old Norse names.

Thurman: Where does the name Thurman come from?

The last name Thurman is of English origin, and is found in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it is most common in the southern states of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Arkansas. In the UK it is distributed throughout England, Wales, and Scotland.

In the United States, the Thurman last name is particularly associated with the Southern states. One of the earliest known holders of the name, David "Dave" Thurman, lived in Dinwiddie County, Virginia in the 1730s. His descendants moved to Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. In Georgia the Thurmans were particularly concentrated in Worth, Dooly, and Irwin counties.

The Thurmans are also found in states outside of the South in the United States, especially in Roanoke, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. By 2000, Thurman was the 1,460th most-common surname in the United States. It is even more common in the UK, where in 1881 the name was found in 32,994 households and is now the 339th most common surname in the country.

Today, the Thurman last name is found in many countries around the world. It remains most concentrated in the United States and the UK, however, as those countries are where the surname has its roots.

Variations of the surname Thurman

The surname Thurman can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Thurmond, Thurmanne, Thorman, Thormann, Therman, and Thurmann.

There is also the variant "Thorpe" which is a British Anglicised form of Thorman, originally derived from the Old Norse "Þórð." In addition, another variant of "Torm" is used in the Netherlands, derived directly from the Old Norse name.

The Grimm name "Thürmann" is the most common variant in Germany, which is likely an occupational name derived from the old German work “Thur,” which translates to “gatekeeper.”

Variations of "Thurman" can also be found in Italy, though this is a more uncommon variant. Possible spellings include "Turman," "Turbin," and "Toremin."

In Russia, different variants exist with minor spelling differences, such as Terryman, Tareman, and Tormann. It is possible that these variations resulted from the adaptation of the surname to the Russian Cyrillic writing system.

The surname Thurman is ultimately derived from the Old Germanic personal name "þur," which means "giant" or "strong one." It is likely that the family name originated with an ancestor who exhibited great physical strength or size. This meaning can still be found among the various spellings and variants of the name today.

Famous people with the name Thurman

• Uma Thurman: American actress, known for her roles in films such as Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, and Gattaca.
• Arlene Thurman: American librarian and president of American Library Association from 2008 to 2009.
• Bob Thurman– American professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and the first American to become ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk.
• Howard Thurman: American author, educator, theologian, and civil rights leader.
• Paul Thurman: American film editor and director.
• Mike Thurman: Major League Baseball pitcher from 1995 to 2001.
• Bill Thurman: American actor who appeared in films such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Spy Who Loved Me, and The Boys in Company C.
• John Thurman: Indian actor, producer, and TV presenter, known for roles in films such as Wanted, Wanted Dead or Alive, and Hera Pheri.
• Bill Thurman Jr.: American football player who played for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1950s.
• Matt Thurman: Actor who appeared in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, and Midnight In Paris.

Other surnames

ThurmannThurmerThurmonThurmond