Last name: Thomson

This famous surname is regarded as being of "Crusader" origins, and found in every European country. That is to say it is a name associated with the Christian Faith, and one whose popularity followed the twelve Crusades by the knights of St John, under the command of various European kings in particular Richard, Coeur de Lyon, of England, to free the Holy Land from the Muslim. All the Crusades were unusuccessful, but it was not for want of gallantry, on either side. Returning knights, as a reminder of their efforts, gave their children names associated with the Bible. One of the most popular was Thomas. This was an Aramaic byname meaning "twin", and borne by one of Christ's disciples. Prior to the Crusades the name Thomas was found only as a priest name, but thereafter became one of the most popular male personal names, generating a wide variety of surnames. The patronymic forms from diminutives, such as Thomson (the Scottish form) and Thompson, found mainly in England and Northern Ireland, appear firstly in the 14th Century, the first recording being from Scotland. The intrusive "p" of the English and Irish forms was for easier pronunciation, and the wild fable about "p" meaning prisoner, is total rubbish. If "p" did imply prisoner, every name would have one! One of the earliest recordings is that of John Thompson in the charters of the Abbey of Whitby, Yorkshire, in 1349, whilst amongst the early church recordings is the marriage of David Thompson and Mary Clarke on May 29th 1664 at St. Giles Cripplegate, in the city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name in any spelling is believed to be that of John Thomson, which was dated 1318, in the Annals of Scotland. This was during the reign of King Robert 1st of Scotland, known as "The Bruce", 1306 - 1329. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

Martin Currie
Why is there no mention of the fact that the addition of "son" at the end of a name is common in the nordic contries. A great number of Scottish names came about as a direct result of the close relationship between these countries and the Scots and had nothing to do with the crusades. The existence of this form, never mind this specific occurance, is more to do with the vikings than any crusaders.

CC
I agree with the above. My mother's surname is Thomson and she tracked it to Norway. I should point out we're Scots.

Julie
I also wondered about a possible Norse etymology, although if the info above is correct then the name can still be understood to have its origins in the popularization of 'Thomas' as a given name during and after the crusades. And there were many crusaders from Christian Scandinavian states (Norway was certainly one of them, under Sigurd I Magnusson) who might have adopted it and somehow ended up later on the British Isles. 'Vikings' as such were no longer in existence after the first millennium. My Thomson line is solidly from Fife, where it's a (frighteningly) popular surname. That certainly isn't an area known historically for Scandinavian settlement, but there are some place-names which might suggest otherwise (eg 'Ketil' in Kingskettle, Wormit).

Julie
Also, on the subject of Scottish Thomases, I just remembered "Thomas the Rhymer" who was a bit like a Scots Nostradamus. I notice he was from another southerly county (Berwickshire), interestingly. And lived in the 13th century which would also correlate with the crusade thing.

shane
ive also herd that thomson was generated from a son of thom.. as in.. david is thom's son.. david thomson.. ??

Mark Ian Thomson
Hi my name is Mark Thomson and i am quite proud of the fact that my surname does not have the P, although it always creates problems when giving my name over the phone when booking hotel rooms etc. I have always wanted to express this but either noone cares or people have a life and its unimportant to them. My families origins are apparently from Dundee. Mark, London

Barbara Thomson
hi! my name is Barbara Thomson and I am from Chile, no many people here has that surname and i wanted to know where it ome from. if someone has more information or something please please contact me by email B.

Neil E. Thomson
My Great Uncle Duncan John Thompson settled in South America; do you know your family history?

Neil E. Thomson
Duncan John Thomson ... no "p"

R Whiting
In the Edgeworth papers ref.M1502: the 1726 Church of Ireland (England) Census the name Thomson is found. In later records it has been anglicized to Thompson. Local research appears to indicate it has arrived in Longford and Leitrim from the James I Scottish Ulster Plantation (1607). Some associate one of its origins is Aberdeenshire.

Nathan Thomson
I find it disappointing that the article neglected to mention that the predominant Scottish form of the name is simply an Anglicization of the Gaelic surname, MacTamhais (MacTavish) found in Knapdale in western Argyleshire. MacTavish is, of course, Gaelic for "son of Thomas." The Germanic/Scandanavian roots of the "son" suffix more probably lay in the relationship with the Anglo-Saxons and Danish Normans of England than the Vikings themselves. There is no question that the Vikings had an influence in Scotland, but not as great an effect as the English colonization of Scotland through the 12th and 13th centuries. Germanic speaking populations tend to use the suffix "sen" and not "son". "Son" is an English format.

Alex Thomson
A few years ago, whilst talking with a Thompson (with a "P") he told me of a story relating to the Thomsons who supported the armies a Bonnie Prince Charlie had the "P" added to their surnames to show their support. I find this a little strange as Bonnie Prince Charlie was Catholic and the "P" possibly signified protestant. Incidently whilst I'm English from Barrow-in-Furness I know I have distant relatives in the Greenock area of Renfrewshire, Scotland

Mr. Thomson P T
i liked this name thomson very much..............