Thurman is an English surname and given name with a unique and interesting history. It originated as an occupational name for a miller or farmer, derived from the Old English word "þyrn" meaning "millstream." The name was also associated with the Old Norse personal name "Þórmundr," which was composed of the elements "Þór" meaning "Thor" (the god of thunder in Norse mythology) and "mundr" meaning "protection."
The name Thurman was brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest in 1066. It was first recorded as a surname in the early 13th century, with the birth of Richard filz (son of) Turmann in Suffolk in 1273.
Over time, Thurman has evolved from a purely occupational surname to a given name. Today, it is more commonly used as a male given name, although it can also be used for females. Some notable individuals with the name Thurman include American actors Robert Thurman and Uma Thurman, both of whom are children of Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman.
In popular culture, Thurman has been featured in various films and television shows, such as "Kill Bill" starring Uma Thurman, and "The Thurman Wonderbar," a short film about a magical bar owned by a man named Thurman. Despite its unique spelling and sound, Thurman is not particularly common, making it a distinctive choice for parents looking for an unusual but meaningful name for their child.
Overall, the name Thurman has a rich history that dates back to medieval England, with roots in both Old English and Norse languages. Its meaning of "millstream" or "protection" makes it a fitting choice for those who wish to honor their heritage or simply appreciate its unique sound and spelling.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Thurman in the United States from 1880 to 2023, we can observe several trends and patterns over time.
From 1880 to around 1914, the number of births with the name Thurman fluctuated between a low of 6 births per year (in 1881, 1883) to a high of 241 births in 1914. During this period, there was significant variation in popularity, suggesting that Thurman was not yet established as a common name.
Starting around 1915 and continuing until about 1950, the number of annual births with the name Thurman increased significantly. The peak year during this time was 1927, with 319 births. This era marked a period of greater popularity for the name Thurman, with an average of around 300 births per year.
From the late 1950s to the early 1980s, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Thurman. During this time, the number of annual births ranged from a high of 167 in 1960 to a low of 27 in 1997. This trend indicates that the name Thurman fell out of favor and became less common during these years.
Since the late 1980s, the popularity of the name Thurman has remained relatively stable but at a lower level compared to previous decades. The number of annual births has fluctuated between around 5 to 47, with an average of approximately 26 births per year since 1987.
In recent years, from 2009 to 2023, the name Thurman has seen a further decline in popularity, with the number of annual births ranging from a low of 5 (in 2022) to a high of 18 (in 2016). This recent trend suggests that Thurman is now quite uncommon as a baby name in the United States.
In conclusion, while Thurman was once a moderately popular name with peaks in popularity during certain periods, it has since become increasingly uncommon. Over the past decade, it has been one of the least popular names among parents choosing names beginning with the letter 'T'. Despite its decline in popularity, it remains an historic name with a rich heritage.