| Country: | England |
| Static Image: | Village Street, Thornton le Beans.jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | Village street, Thornton-le-Beans |
| Coordinates: | 54.3084°N -1.3905°W |
| Official Name: | Thornton-le-Beans |
| Population: | 255 |
| Population Ref: | (including Crosby. 2011 census) |
| Unitary England: | North Yorkshire |
| Lieutenancy England: | North Yorkshire |
| Region: | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituency Westminster: | Vale of York |
| Post Town: | NORTHALLERTON |
| Postcode District: | DL6 |
| Postcode Area: | DL |
| Dial Code: | 01609 |
| Os Grid Reference: | SE397904 |
Thornton-le-Beans is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the A168 road and south of Northallerton.[1]
It is in the Thornton's electoral ward for district elections and the District Councillor is Bob Baker. The population of this electoral ward taken at the 2011 Census was 1,852. The village is currently in the Thirsk and Malton Parliamentary constituency, whose incumbent is Kevin Hollinrake.[2]
The village has one pub called The Crosby behind which there is a campsite. In 2007 the Pub won "Best Pub Grub" in the Flavours of Hambleton Awards.[3] There is a Methodist Chapel at the east end of the village and a Chapel of Ease at the west end. The graveyard looks over the Vale of York. The author Bill Bryson famously stated in his book Notes From a Small Island that he wants to be buried in Thornton-le-Beans, due to the oddness of the name.[4]
The town's odd name is derived from the common place name 'Thornton', meaning a farm with thorn bushes. This farm had beans grown upon it.[5] In 1534 it was called Thornton-in-Fabis, the Latin for Thornton-le-Beans.[6]