Tharp

Tharp is a surname of English-language origin. It is commonly viewed as a variant of Thorpe or Thorp, derived from the Old English or Norse word thorp, meaning village, farmstead, or hamlet. As a habitational or topographic name, it may have been given to people living near a village or to residents of places named Thorpe/Tharp. Over time, spellings diverged, and Tharp became an established form in family records and modern usage.

The surname is found in several English-speaking countries, with a notable presence in the United States and the United Kingdom. Variation in spelling—such as Thorp or Thorpe—appears in historical and modern records, but Tharp has become a recognized standalone form, particularly in the United States.

Notable individuals with the surname include Twyla Tharp (born 1941), an American dancer and choreographer renowned for her contributions to contemporary dance and for founding the Twyla Tharp Dance company. Her career spans numerous acclaimed works and collaborations across music, film, and theater, earning multiple awards and honors. Other people bearing the name Tharp have contributed to fields such as journalism, science, and the arts, though they are less widely documented in general references.

There is no single usage of Tharp beyond a surname and its variants, though it may appear in place names, genealogical records, or fictional contexts.