This interesting surname, of English origin, is derived from the Northern Middle English given name "Thurgod", Old Norse "Thorgautr", composed of the divine name "Thor", the name of the God of Thunder in Scandinavian mythology, plus the ethnic name "Gautr" coming from the tribal name Gaut. Recordings of the personal name include "Turgoti" (1183), the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, "Thurgot" (1219) the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire, "Thurgod" (1327) the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex. The first recording of the surname dates back to the 13th Century (see below). Further recordings include one William Thurgod (1275), the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire and William Thorgot (1297) the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Thurgod, Thurgood, and Thurgate. Rose Thorrowgood was christened on May 7th 1562, at Allhallows, London Wall. George, son of George Thurgood, was christened on July 23rd 1609, and his daughter Marye, was christened on July 25th 1610, both at St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Turgod, which was dated 1207, in the "Charter Rolls of Dorset", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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