Meaning & History
Thompson is a common English surname meaning "son of Thomas." It is a variant of Thomson, derived from the medieval given name Thom, a short form of Thomas, plus the patronymic suffix -son. In some cases, it may also be an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacTamhais (McTavish), which likewise means "son of Thomas." Alternative forms include Tompson, Tomson, Thomasson, and Thomason.
Etymology
The given name Thomas itself originates from the Aramaic word te'oma, meaning "twin." In the New Testament, Thomas is the name of the apostle who doubted Jesus's resurrection—hence the phrase "doubting Thomas." The name's popularity spread throughout Christendom due to his fame, as well as that of later saints such as Thomas Becket, the 12th-century Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century Italian theologian and philosopher. In England, Thomas was a top-five boys' name from the 13th to the 19th centuries, placing the surname Thompson among the most common English surnames.
Notable Bearers
The name Thompson has been borne by many notable figures. In science and technology, for example, Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753–1814), also known as Count Rumford, was a physicist and inventor who made contributions to thermodynamics and improved stove designs. In literature, one might consider the poet Francis Thompson (1859–1907), best known for his poem "The Hound of Heaven." In popular culture, the name appears regularly—from actress Emma Thompson to the journalist Hunter S. Thompson, known for his Gonzo journalism. The surname also appears in place names such as Thompson, Manitoba, a mining town in western Canada.
Distribution
Thompson is among the ten most common surnames in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, it ranks as the 20th most common surname according to 2010 census data. The name's frequency reflects the ubiquity of the given name Thomas across centuries of English naming practice.