This unusual name is of Olde Norse origin and is derived from the Olde Norse personal name "Thorkell", itself a contracted form of the name "Thorketill". The name of the Norse god "Thorr" is the first element with "Ketill", cauldron, the second. As a personal name this was commonly in use throughout England in the Middle Ages in the forms "Thurkill" or "Thirkill" and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Turkil" in Suffolk and "Turchil" in Norfolk. In northern England the name was introduced by the Scandinavian settlers, while in the south east the Normans were mainly responsible for its use. There are many variants of the name, ranging from Thirkettle, Thurkettle, Thurtell and Thirtle to Turtle, Tuttle and Turgill. Amie Thirtle was christened on the 1st January 1710 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London. On March 27th 1757, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Mary Thirtle was christened at St. Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London and on March 4th 1759, their son William was christened in the same place. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Turkil, which was dated 1190, the Worcester Pipe Rolls, during the reign of King Richard 1, the Lionheart, 1189 - 1199. 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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