Surname Thayer - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling History and Culture through my DNA: The Story of the Thayer Name
Delving into my lineage through an iGENEA DNA test, I discovered rich details about the origins and history of my surname, "Thayer." This exploration led me back to the Middle Ages, revealing my ancestors' likely role as important craftsmen and tracing a cultural genealogy that spans from the Roman-influenced Gaul to the medieval villages of England.
K. Thayer
read moreThayer: What does the surname Thayer mean?
The surname Thayer is of English, French, and German origin. It is derived from the Old French word 'taiere', which translates to 'cutter' in English. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname likely held the occupation of either a tailor or a stone cutter. Alternatively, Thayer could be a variant of the surname 'Thatcher', referring to a person whose job involved thatching or roof construction. It is also speculated that it could have derived from the Teutonic name 'Theodoric', meaning ‘people’s ruler’. Therefore, the last name Thayer generally signifies a trade or occupation, and carries a sense of skilled craftsmanship.
Order DNA origin analysisThayer: Where does the name Thayer come from?
The last name Thayer is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were approximately 24,553 Thayer households in the United States in 2019. Thayer is a predominately English or Irish surname, and has made its way to the United States during the great migration period in the mid-19th century.
Most of the Thayer households in the United States are concentrated in the northeastern states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont. Massachusetts has the highest concentration of Thayers with over 8,200 households, and Connecticut and Vermont follow in second and third respectively with 4,600 and 3,500 households.
The Thayer last name can also be found throughout the mid-west states like Nebraska and Iowa, as well as the western states of Colorado, Utah, and California.
Although Thayer is still more common in the northeastern states, it is slowly becoming less clustered in these regions as descendants of the first Thayer immigrants move from their original homes and spread the Thayer name throughout the United States. It is likely that in a few decades, Thayers will be found in all states of the Union.
Variations of the surname Thayer
The surname Thayer is a common surname of English origin. It is derived from Old English and means "dweller on the bank of a river or stream of water." Variations of the surname Thayer include Thayre, Theayre, Thaier, Taier, Tayre, Tayer, Tayhr, Tayer, and Thayr.
Spellings of the surname Thayer can include Thairs, Thayar, Thieler, Thayor, Thaior, Thayour, and Thiar. Other variants of Thayer include Thayre, Theayre, Thaier, Taier, Tayre, Tayer, Tayhr, Tayer, and Thayr.
Surnames that are derived from the Thayer name include Thayard, Thayart, Thayre, Theayre, Theayart, Thayar, Thaire, Thaier, Tayer, Tayier, Thaior, and Thayour.
Other spellings and surnames that have common origin with Thayer include Thayr, Thaykar, Thayre, Thayar, Thieler, Thairy, Theyer, Tayer, Thayour, Thayar, Thaier, Thayrea, and Thaieer.
Other surnames that have similar origins and sound to Thayer include Thawyer, Thyar, Theyr, Tyar, Thayra, Thyer, Thayar, Thyaer, and Thieri.
In conclusion, the surname Thayer has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variations often vary in usage and spelling among different regions, languages and peoples.
Famous people with the name Thayer
- Margaret Thayer, Canadian fashion model
- Abbott Thayer, American artist and naturalist
- Mel Thayer, American actor
- Abigail Thayer, American novelist
- Tom Thayer, former American professional football player
- Daryl Thayer, former American college football coach
- Lia Thayer, Brazilian actress
- Bill Thayer, English footballer
- Theodore Thayer Union Army officer
- Alfred Thayer Mahan, American naval officer and historian
- Jessie Perkins Thayer, American painter
- Abner Thayer, American lawyer and politician
- Fernando Thayer, Brazilian actor
- William Augustus Thayer, American stage actor
- Harry Brockway Thayer, American football player and coach
- John Thayer, American politician
- H. C. Thayer, American lawyer
- George Thayer, Austrian classical guitarist
- Tilda Thayer, American actress
- ASS Thayer, American Old West lawman