Thornton Family Tree research resources
Delve into the history of the Thornton Family History using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Family History !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 15057 people with the Thornton surname? In that year Thornton was ranked number 257 for popularity in the UK. |
Thornton records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Thornton family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Thornton family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Thornton family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Thornton family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Thornton family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Thornton family. |
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Historical References
"THORNTON. From the lands of Thornton in the Meams. The first of the name to appear Is Laurence de Thorneton, witness in a deed by Henry, abbot of Arbroath, c. 1204-11 (RAA., i, p. 117). John of Thornton, burgess of Montrose, and Tohan de Thorntone of the county of Kincardyn en Miernes, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, n, p. 198,209). In 1299 Walter de Thorneton, a Scots prisoner of war, who was exchanged for an esquire of Sir William de Cathecart (ibid., n, 1062), is probably Walter de Thornetone, executor of Marie, countess of Stratherne in the same year (ibid., 1117). Valentine de Thorntoun or Thornetoun had a charter of the lands of Thorntoun in lie Kincardin-Mernes from Robert i (RMS., i, App. ii, 18). In 1398-9 Osbern styled de Yrnis ( of the Irons'), evidently from his trade of barber, acquired the land of Thornton (in Angus), and was then styled Osbern of the Irons, laird of Thornton ('Osbemus de Yrnis, dominus de Thornton'). By 1425 his son had dropped the style "of Irons" and became simply John of Thornton (Strathmore, p. 182). Alexander de Thorntoun was a notary public in 1455 (RAA., n, 104), John Thorntoun was vicar of Glasgow in 1491 (REG., 460), and James Thornetoun was canon there in 1554 (Protocols, i). Among Scots settled in Prussia in 1644 the name became Dornthon. Thorntowne 1609. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Thornton ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Thornton Tree?
Visit our Thornton DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Thornton Genealogy
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Thornton Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Thornton family tree.
Check out Thornton Parish Records at Find My Past.
Investigate the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Thornton family name using the FreeBMD database.
Check out Genealogy Bank for Thornton family records.
Study MyHeritage for Thornton family data.
Search the LDS Database for records of the Thornton family.
Research the Thornton surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Thornton Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 17574 people with the Thornton surname in the UK? Thornton is now ranked number 309 for popularity in the UK. |
Thornton Family Tree Databases
Study WikiTree for user contributed Thornton family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Thornton data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Explore MyTrees for information on the Thornton family and people looking to contact living Thornton relations.
Search GENi for Thornton family records.
Find your Irish Thornton relatives on findmypast.ie
Thornton Forums
Research the Thornton surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 94186 people with the Thornton surname in the USA? Thornton is ranked number 126 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Thornton Databases
Investigate the Ellis Island Database for information on the Thornton family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Thornton surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Some people with the surname Thornton
Anthony Archibald Arland Barbara Barry Big Billy Blair Bob Bonnell Bubba Charles Col Dallas Duncan Floyd Francis Frank George Harold Hugh Isaac James Jane Jessica Joe John Joseph Kristin Lawrence Leonard Martin Matt Melanie Melody Neville Percy Peter Presley Richard Robert Robinson Ross Russell Samuel Sara Scott Sidney Sigrid Teri Thomas Walter William Zach Zack
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