The first part of the name is believed to be the Old Norse word thorp with the meaning outlying farm, indicative of the village's location within the Danelaw.

During the boundary changes of 1934 the civil parish was enlarged with the addition of Statfold and Syerscote, and became part of Lichfield Rural District.

[4][7] Electorally the parish is part of Mease and Tame ward of Lichfield District,[8] and lies within the parliamentary constituency of Tamworth.

The manor house of Thorpe Hall is a privately owned Georgian style country mansion, and a Grade II listed building.

In 1790 when another Inge family seat at Drakelow, Derbyshire was abandoned, Thorpe Hall was enlarged and improved.

Two three-bayed, two-storeyed wings were added, and the main central block was decorated with balustrading and an entrance porch.

Statfold is an abandoned village, of which little trace now remains, though the listed manor house and church are still extant.

[1] In the Middle Ages Syerscote was a prebend that funded one of 5 canons to the then collegiate Church of St Editha, Tamworth.