The History Of The Surname THISTLE... Newfoundland, Channel Islands.
and England.

You can trace the Thistle family back to the old Norse Saga of Eric the Red
990-1006 . Ketil Thistil settled at Thistle firth, Greenland. The same Norsemen
who settled in Iceland about 850 and in Greenland about the year 1000, and came
with Rollo about 950 to the River Sceine in France, and captured Normandy
from the French. They were defeated more then once, but their head quarters
were on the Jersey Islands. Where they plundered the coast of France and eventually
got possession of Normandy.

Thysel................ Norman......Viking....... 

Thistil..........Viking  .......Norsman............

Thistle , A surname of England....a dweller near thistle.

Thistle, Newfoundland variant of the surname of France and the Jersey Islands
(Tissel)...Channel Islands 
(Touzel...from nickname man with short hair.... France

Thistle .....France a variant of the surname , La Tissier..

Thistle name migrated from the Channel Islands  to the northern part of England:
Thistlewood.....The woods where the Thistle family lived...England......15th cen.
Thistleton........The town where Thistle family  lived...... England.....

In England ton, woods, thwayte or thwaite where added to many surnames.

In the late 16th century and was modified to Thistle(thwayte) meaning
 " the clearing where the (Thistle) family  settled in Cumberland. 
Alexander Thistle one of the first names to appear in North of England in 1577.
Through the generations the Thistle's married into several notable families
 and have ranked among the most influential land propritors and have allied with
 the most eminent houses.  Alexander Thistle married Cicilia Daughter
 of Sir Anthony Hungerford. His son Alexander married Dorothy Daughter of
 Sir Edward Penruddock Knight of Compton Chamberland.
 Francis Thistle married  Mary Daughter of Major Robert Pelham .
 Alexander son Francis married Mary daughter of Sir Whithed .
It was here where the Thistle family would inherit the coat of arms through
 a most extraordinry will. Whithed will his great land and personal property to the
 parliamment of Great Britton. In Trust for the use of the poor, hunger,
 naked strangers, sick wounded, and prisoners to the end of the world.
This singlular dispostion how ever was set aside and the estate  was
past on to Francis Thistle who married Mary Whithed daughter of
Sir Whithed.  He died without heir and the Coat of arms was past on to Francis.
 It has remained in the family ever since. 
 The Coat Of Arms : Gold field with a Blue Diagonal Three Pheons 
Family crest. Lion holding a Pheon     (Pheon =Arrow head)
 
Thistle: name migrated to  Newfoundland one of four Thistle brothers , from 
Guernsey Channel Islands who came to Newfoundland settled in Harbour Grace.

 A descendent move to Boot Harbour in 1825 (Mun Folklore)

Early instances Amy Thistle of Harbour Grace 1765 Property possessed by the
 family for 102 years that is since 1663.

Henry Thistle of Bell Island 1707-1708. His name is shows up on land contract
1705...
Henry Thistle 1706 Census 1 wife  5 Children 4 Servants 1 Boat.

Thomas Thistle  Constable of Carbonear  1730.

Francis Thistle of Carbonear 1772.

William of Mulley's Cove 1777.
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In a Letter to D.R.Thistle from Munn. stated that in going through property records

in Harbour Grace he had taken particular notice of all referance to the Thistle

family. There is no doubt they are one of the very earliest Jersey families coming to

Harbour Grace probably in 1500 or even before John Cabot. The first settlers would 

settle near a stream of water where a bountiful water supply can be obtained. Thistle 

Brook is in the very center of Harbour Grace and has always been looked upon as an

important Landmark in tiltes for property.
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Places and Names : Thistle Island Labrador, Thistle Rock, Thistle Shoal.

Mordern Day Status : Scattered, especially St. Johns and Corner Brook.
Compiled from Various Sources/. Gary Thistle...