THURSTON or TURTON
This is a copy of an article published in
The Peak Advertiser, the Peak District's local free newspaper,
on 6th August 2001,
reproduced by kind permission of the author, the late Desmond Holden.
The “What's in a Name” series was a regular
feature in the Advertiser over the period 1993‑2004,
taking a refreshing look at the derivation of some typically
Derbyshire surnames.
Articles are confined to the origins and meanings of surnames,
and do not indicate any particular interest on Desmond's part in
the genealogy, descent, or family history of individuals bearing
the surnames featured.
Editor's Note: Articles are provided for general interest and
background only. They are not intended to provide an exhaustive treatise
for any individual family history - investigations of which may yield
quite different results. Or, in Desmond's own words:
“In the end it must remain with individual bearers of the names to
draw upon family traditions and to seek out such documentary
evidence as is available to decide the matter for themselves.”
WHAT'S IN A NAME …
Are you called TURTON or THURSTON?
There are innumerable variations on the name "Turton" which is described,
in the survey of county names conducted in 1890 as being special to
Derbyshire.
Along with corresponding surnames it is derived from "Thor" which was the
name of a Scandinavian god. We have very little information about the
beliefs of the inhabitants of this island during the time when the Romans
departed (c.400) and the reign of Alfred the Great (871-899). It is known
that their gods were thought to occupy a mystical realm called "Asgaard"
and that they were presided over by their chief "Woden" and his wife,
"Freyja" and that "Thor" was their son. As well as the days of the week
their names survive in countless place names. No doubt the coming of the
Christian church led to the discouragement of the use of pagan names, but a
surprisingly large number have survived. Wednesbury (Staffordshire) which
signifies "Woden's Borough" was an important centre for the veneration of
Woden. Apparently its parish church (St. Bartholomew's) was later raised
triumphantly on the site of the former temple of Woden. In the same county,
near Kidsgrove is New Chapel which replaced the former name "Thursfield".
Here in Derbyshire, some 2½ miles west of Matlock is Wensley. This
has undergone many changes in spelling since it appeared in the domesday
book (1086) as "Wodensleie" (Woden's Woodland). There are suggestions that
Friden" (near Hartington) could mean "Freyja's Dene" (i.e. Valley) but -??
An alternative name for Woden was Odin but note that the lead mine at
Castleton called Odin's Cave is a bit of 18th century romanticism and is
first recorded in 1778! However Thor's Cave, just over the border in
Staffordshire is well- attested. It is about 12 miles south of Buxton. Of
the Scandinavian gods, Thor seems to have been the most popular. Myths tell
how he wedded a peasant girl called Sif' and was the guardian of the
household. He had a special concern for children who were frequently named
after him to ensure his surveillance and protection. There are innumerable
variaions on boys' names as well as a feminine form, Thora. It is still a
popular name for boys in Scandinavian countries (Thor Teyerdahl of
"Kon-Tiki" for instance) but it is rarely used today in English society
although as a girls' name it continues a favourite.
The name appears in far many more place-names than the other gods. In the
West Riding, 10 miles north of Otley is Thruscross (Thor's Hill); Tursdale:
4½ miles s.e. of Durham; Thurlow: 8 miles south of Newmarket;
Torbell: 7 miles north of Dornoch (Sutherland) and Thurso (Caithness), to
name only a few.
In the case of surnames derived from personal names such as Turton and
Thurston mention may also be made of some which appear in the local
directory. Thorburn meaning "Soldier of Thor"; Thurgood meaning "The man
called Thor belonging to the tribe called Gautas"; Thurman meaning One who
enjoys Thor's protection; Thursfield (see above) and Turpin meaning The
ugly man called Thor.
Families in our area who are called Turto can almost certainly trace their
origins to the village of that name in Lancashire which signifies "The
settlement of Thor". Whether the Thor in question was a real personality
of that name or referred to the deity is unknown. Probably it was to the
god Thor because in the vicinity of Turton is a druidical circle which
might, therefore, be significant. The place is about 5 miles north of
Bolton.
In the case of Thurston most people who bear this name can look to an
ancestor called simply by that name which means "Thor's stone", or, as is
far more likely to "Thurston" in Suffolk which is some 5 miles to the east
of Bury St. Edmunds.
The name Thor was certainly favoured by the English as the numerous entries
in the domesday book (1086) testify, but it was equally as popular in
Scotland. There a man called "Thor Longus" is described as receiving a
grant of land from King Edgar (1100) at Edam (Roxburgh).
In York we encounter the assistant master in the school, identified as
"Thore prepositus" (1219). As a surname the earliest mention is in Norfolk
(1208) and is to "Everard de Turton". In Scotland "Turstan de Crichton"
(Midlothian) attended an assembly at Hollyrood in 1128.
In our region, William Turton is included in the records for the year 1478
in York and still nearer home, in Manchester we read of "Sir Henry Turton,
priest" in 1523. Note: in those days, ministers of religion were regularly
designated "Sir".
Looking through the standard biographies, the only outstanding personality
is William Turton (1762-1835) who was a noted naturalist and contributed
greatly to the study of shells, after whom the genus Turtonia is named.
Under "Thurston" is mentioned the celebrated Archbishop of York who played
an active part in the government of the time. He died in 1140.
Older readers might recall the novelist, E. Temple Thurston (1870- 1933)
whose books and plays were extremely popular during the first quarter of
the last century.
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© Desmond Holden
From "The Peak Advertiser", 6th August 2001.
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