Surname Northorn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Northorn: What does the surname Northorn mean?
The last name Northorn is an Anglo-Saxon surname dating back to a time when, during the Middle Ages, people moved around and settled in different regions. It is believed to have come from two sources; either a topographical name for someone living in northern regions, derived from the Old English words ‘norð’ meaning ‘north’ and ‘orn’ meaning ‘corner’, or a habitational name from places called Northorne in Shropshire and Middlesex.
The surname has passed down through generations, surviving wars, famine, and the changing political and social landscape. It can also be found in a variety of variant spellings, such as Northam, Northham, and Northum. It is likely that the original inhabitants of the family were of the same origin, and the Northorn name probably came to represent the family’s long-held identity.
The Northorn family has come to symbolize loyalty, commitment, and bravery in the face of danger. The family had a resilient spirit, making sure their name was firmly established in the history books. Today, those bearing the noble Northorn last name are increasingly proud of their hereditary – a mark of their ancestry and a reminder of where they came from.
Order DNA origin analysisNorthorn: Where does the name Northorn come from?
The last name Northorn is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the 2019 United States Census, the last name Northorn appears in at least 15 states across the country.
In the Midwest, Northorns can be found in Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota. In the South, Northorns are found most commonly in Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee with some in Louisiana and Florida. In the West, Northorns are in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Lastly, in the Northeast, Northorns are most commonly found in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Considering Northorn is only a slightly uncommon last name, it is likely that it can be found throughout other parts of the country.
It should be noted that Northorn is an uncommon spelling, but there are variants such as Northorn and Northurn also found in the United States. The 2019 United States Census also records 1,669 people living in the United States with the spelling Northen, most of which are located in Georgia and North Carolina.
Although the origin of the Northorn last name is unknown, it is likely descended from the culture of Britain, as the spelling of Northorn is commonly found in that region as well. The spelling variations could have originated due to migration within the United States, which is why Northorns can be found spread out throughout the country.
Variations of the surname Northorn
The variant spellings and surnames associated with the original surname Northorn include Northorne, Northorpe, Northener, Northe, Northurm, Northrum, Northing, Northan, Northen, Northwood, and Northwick.
The meaning of the surname Northorn is thought to have originated from the Old English pre 7th-Century word "norththorn", which was a reference to a person who lived to the north of another settlement or village. The surname is also believed to derive from any of the various places that were called Northorn, such as villages found in Buckinghamshire and Sussex in England, as well as locations in Wisconsin and California in the United States.
Variant spellings of the surname can be attributed to the regionalised pronunciations and dialects of various countries. Common variations of the name Northorn include Northorne, a version of the English origin, and Northorpe, a variant spelling of the same origin. In Scotland, the surname is sometimes spelled Northener, while in Ireland it is recorded as Northe or Northurm, which is another reflection of the Old English term "norththorn". In the United States, the spelling Northrum is often found, and is derived from the same origin as the version in Scotland.
Other adapted versions of the surname Northorn include Northing, Northan, Northen, Northwood, and Northwick. Each of these variants holds a slight variation of the original meaning, all derived from the Old English word "norththorn". Whilst the spelling of the surname might be slightly different around the world, the origin and meaning have remained the same.
Famous people with the name Northorn
- Robert Northon: winner of a Golden Globe, Tony Award-winning director, producer and choreographer.
- Lew Northon: tenor singer and actor, who performed in London musicals in the 1930s and 40s.
- Kenneth Northon: architect from the early 20th century who designed a range of theatres, hospitals, banks and churches around the United Kingdom.
- Stephen Northon: British historian and educationalist.
- Giorgos Northon: Greek singer-songwriter and instrument maker.
- Karen Northon: American artist and illustrator who creates impressionistic illustrations of nature, landscapes and wildlife
- Liv Northon: Danish child actor who starred in A Little Bit of Heaven in 2010.
- Margaret Northon: Australian author who wrote novels for teenagers in the 1960s and 70s.
- Ralph Northon: Canadian opera singer and conductor who performed in many operas throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
- Craig Northon: English actor best known for his role as Eric Breeze in the BBC school drama series Grange Hill.