Thomson (surname)

Thomson
Origin
Word/nameEnglish, Scottish Gaelic, Lowland Scots
Meaning"son of Thom", "son of Thomas", "little Thomas" (French); in Highland Gaelic contexts, an anglicisation of Mac Tamhais (Son of Tamhais), the Gaelic root of MacTavish[1]
Region of originNorthwestern Europe, Scottish Highlands (Argyll), Scottish Borders
Other names
Variant formsThompson, Thomason, Tompson, MacTavish, McTavish, MacTamhais[2]
Thomson is an English language variant of two existing Scottish Highland clans: Clan MacTavish of Argyll in the Western Highlands, and Clan MacThomas of Angus, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire in the Eastern Highlands. Independent Lowland and Border traditions also produced this name, and each tradition is distinct.[3][4]

Thomson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Thom, Thomp, Thompkin, or other diminutive of Thomas", itself derived from the Aramaic תום or Tôm, meaning "twin". It is a surname of English, Irish, and Scottish Origin. Thomson is also the anglicised form of two Scottish Highland clan names: MacTavish, from the western Highlands of Argyll, and MacThomas, from the eastern Highlands of Angus, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire. Independent Lowland and Border traditions also produced the Thomson surname, and each tradition is genealogically distinct.[5][6][7][8]

The surname is documented in Cheshire records before and after the 1066 Norman Conquest. Variations include Thomason, Thomasson, Thomerson, Thomoson, and others. The French surname Thomson is first documented in Burgundy and is the shortened form for Thom[as]son, Thom[es]son. Variations include Thomassin, Thomason, Thomsson, Thomesson, Thomeson, and others. Thomson is uncommon as a given name.[9][10][11]

Notable people with the Surname

Arts and letters

Politics, law, and government

Sciences and medicine

Sports

Other

In fiction

  • Thomson, one of two identical detectives in the Adventures of Tintin series by Hergé

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Patrick L. (2015). "The Transition of the MacGilletSamhais, MacStibhan, and Tahd Surnames" (PDF). Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  2. ↑ "Scottish Thompson Name is MacTavish". Clanmactavish.org. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  3. ↑ "Clan MacThomas — Septs". Clan MacThomas. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  4. ↑ Sellar, David, Lord Lyon King of Arms. Letter to Patrick L. Thompson. 30 July 2008. Court of the Lord Lyon, H.M. New Register House, Edinburgh.
  5. ↑ "Clan MacThomas — Septs". Clan MacThomas. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  6. ↑ "Scottish Thompson Name is MacTavish". ClanMacTavish.org. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  7. ↑ "Clan MacTavish Surname Origin and Variant Spellings" (PDF). Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "The Transition of the MacGilletSamhais, MacStibhan, and Tahd Surnames" (PDF). Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1, p.260.
  10. ↑ "Surname: Thomson". surnamedb.com. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  11. ↑ "THOMPSON – Name Meaning & Origin". genealogy.about.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  12. ↑ "Clan Creep" (PDF). Claymore. Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, COSCA: 17. July 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  13. ↑ "Clan MacThomas Society – Clan Creep" (PDF). An Drochaid – The Bridge. 52 (1). Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada: 4. April 2024. ISSN 0703-1491.
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