Meaning and origin
The last name Thomson, also spelled as Thompson, has origins in medieval Scotland and England. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Thomas, meaning "twin" in Aramaic. As a hereditary surname, Thomson indicates "son of Thomas" or descendant of someone with the name Thomas. The popularity and spread of the surname can be attributed to the prevalence of the given name Thomas among English and Scottish populations, particularly during the Middle Ages. The variations in spelling, such as Thompson, can be attributed to regional dialects and standardization of surnames over time.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,440
Thomson was the 1,440th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 24,750 people, about 8.0 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Thomson
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Thomson is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.