The settlement of Thurlby by Lincoln is first documented in the Domesday Book, and was known at that time as Turulfbi, Turolfbi, Turoluebi and Turoluesbi. The name means 'Thorulf's farmstead or village' from the Old Danish personal name Thorolf, and Old Danish 'by'. A manor was recorded there, which was owned by Odo the Arblaster. Three sokemen, four villeins and one bordar were also recorded (48/14). Sokeland and a berewic of the manor at Acley (or Eagle), which was owned by Countess Judith, was recorded. Fourteen sokemen were also documented (56/15). One carucate of this land was successfully claimed by Osbern, which was still soke to Countess Judith. (72/25). {1}{2} There do not not appear to be any population figures recorded for Thurlby in the Diocesan Returns of 1563. Seventeen families were documented in the late seventeenth-early eighteenth century. {3}{4} The population of Thurlby parish in the nineteenth century was small, being 78 in 1801, and 109 in 1901, peaking at 156 in 1851. {5} Earthwork remains have been noted from aerial photographs in and around the present settlement. These remains include hollow ways, crofts, crew yards, a boundary, enclosure and pond. {6}