List of Famous people with last name Thornton

William Thornton was a planter and public official in Colonial Virginia. Thornton served as member of the House of Burgesses for Brunswick County from 1756–68 and as justice of the county and of the quorum as early as 1760 and as late as 1774/5. Thornton was the great-grandson of William Thornton who arrived in Virginia from England as late as 1646 settling in Gloucester County, Virginia. He was through his paternal line a cousin of fellow burgesses, Francis Thornton of Spotsylvania, Presley Thornton of Northumberland, George Thornton of Spotsylvania, William Thornton of King George and William Thornton of Richmond County, Virginia.

William Thornton was a planter and colonist in 17th–century Virginia. He was one of approximately thirty early Virginia colonists to progenerate descendants that through intermarriage would establish themselves as a political and social 'aristocracy' in America. Among his most notable descendants are U.S. Presidents James Madison and Zachary Taylor.

Presley Thornton was a planter and public official in Colonial Virginia. Thornton served as member of the House of Burgesses for Northumberland County from 1748–49 and 1752–61. Thornton was the great-grandson of William Thornton who arrived in Virginia from England as late as 1646 settling in Gloucester County, Virginia. He was through his paternal line a cousin of fellow burgesses, Francis Thornton of Spotsylvania, George Thornton of Spotsylvania, William Thornton of King George and William Thornton of Richmond County, Virginia and William Thornton of Brunswick County. In addition to his fellow burgesses he was a distant cousin of the future Presidents James Madison and Zachary Taylor.