All surnames

English surname

Thompson

Son of Thomas

Patronymic surname (from a father's name)

Thompson is a patronymic meaning 'son of Thomas'. Thomas, from the Aramaic for 'twin', became popular in England after the cult of St Thomas Becket in the 12th century. The surname is particularly common in northern England and Scotland, where the '-son' ending was preferred.

Variants include Thomson (especially in Scotland) and Tompson. The name remains highly frequent and reflects the widespread adoption of the given name Thomas in the later Middle Ages.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the surname Thompson mean?+

Son of Thomas. From the given name Thomas plus "-son".

Is Thompson a common surname?+

Thompson is a English-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.

Can two families with the same surname be unrelated?+

Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.

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