Thues

Thues is a surname of Scandinavian origin most commonly found in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The name is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Þórr" meaning “Thor” or “god of thunder.” In modern usage it is primarily a family name and occasionally appears as a placename in parts of northern Europe.

Among the most notable individuals bearing the surname is Axel Thue (1876–1936), a Norwegian-born mathematician who worked in Denmark. Thue is best known for his contributions to number theory and the theory of Diophantine equations, particularly Thue’s theorem on the finiteness of integer solutions to certain types of polynomial equations. His work also laid foundational ideas for combinatorics on words, leading to the Thue–Morse sequence, a binary sequence with applications in theoretical computer science and fractal geometry. Other members of the Thues family who have achieved recognition include historian Hans Thues, who published significant studies on Scandinavian medieval manuscripts, and engineer Rolf Thues, known for innovations in renewable energy technology.

In addition to its use as a surname, “Thues” may refer to a small municipality in southern Germany, located in the district of Göppingen within Baden-Württemberg. The locality, historically recorded under the name “Thues,” is noted for its medieval architecture and agricultural traditions. The name also occasionally appears in literary and genealogical records as a variant spelling of “Thue,” reflecting regional orthographic differences.