Skip to main content WikiTree: Where genealogists collaborate
WikiTree: Where genealogists collaborate
Log Out
Thompson Name Study

Thompson Name Study

Thompson Genealogy - A list of people with the Thompson Surname on Wikitree

Welcome to the Thompson Name Study!

This is a One Name Study to collect together in one place everything about the surname Thompson and its variants. The hope is that other researchers like you will join our study to help make it a valuable reference point for people studying lines that cross or intersect. Please contact the project leader, add categories to your profiles, add your questions to the bulletin board, add details of your name research, etc.


Thompson Name Origin

Thompson is of English and Scottish origin, meaning son of Thom. Thom(p)son is the English translation of MacTavish, which is the Anglicized Gaelic translation of MacTamhais. Thomas was a common Norman given name and became popular in Britain as a surname. Thompson was the name given to the son of Thomas, the "p" was added to the name in England for easier pronunciation. The name Thomson is of Scottish origins, they didn’t add the "p". When the Normans invaded Ireland in the 12th century many of the Normans settled across Ireland and the name Thompson became more common.

Statistics on the Thompson Surname
  • Thompson is the 408th most common surname in the world
  • Approximately 1,206,149 people bear the Thompson surname
  • Thompson ranks among the top 50 names in Ireland, Scotland, and England
  • Thompson is the 4th most common surname in Scotland
  • Thompson is the 14th most common surname in the United Kingdom
  • Thompson is the 17th most common Surname in the United States. From the 1990 United States Census 707,385 had the Thompson surname in 2014
  • The highest density of the Thompson surname in is in The Bahamas 1 in 86 people had the Thompson Surname in 2014.
Spelling Variations

Thompson, Thomson, MacTavish, MacTamhais, Thomas, Tavis, Tom, Thom,Thomason, Thomasson, Thomerson, Thomoson

Thom(p)son Scottish

  • Origin of Name: Patronymic name, Not gaelic, likely Christian & Nordic Origins
  • Crest: A thistle proper
  • Motto: Pro Patria (For one’s country)
  • Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan








Sources

Photos of Thompson Name Study: 4

Memories of Thompson Name Study: 4

G2G Forum



Collaboration on Thompson Name Study

  • Login to edit this page.
  • Private Messages: Contact the Profile Managers privately: One Name Studies WikiTree and Kern Brogan. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
  • Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages directed to everyone who sees this page.)
  • Share the profile on social media. Share on Facebook
  • Public Q&A: These appear in the Genealogist-to-Genealogist (G2G) Forum. (Best for anything directed to the wider genealogy community.)

Comments on Thompson Name Study: 14


Login to post a comment.

[Living Thompson]
I am Ian Thompson; My great grandfather was Charles Arthur Thompson, British American born in Albany, New York in around 1848. He emigrated to South Africa married Eliza and had 10 children. He died there in 1917. I can’t find any record of his birth in the USA nor any record of his emigrating. I’d love to find out more about him and his ancestry. If anyone can point me in the right direction I’d be most grateful.

posted by [Living Thompson]
edited by [Living Thompson]

Dean Thompson
My name is Dean Thompson. My 4th GGF is Balaam Thompson (Thompson-9713) My 5th is William Thompson (Thompson-9701) My 6th is William Thompson (Thompson-9714), My 7th GGF is William Thompson (Thompson-53267), My 8th GGF is William Thompson (Thompson 2345_ Born in England in 1629, Died in Colonial VA abt 1700. THEN comes one of the WARS of WARS on Wikitree. Some records show that this Rev William Thompson is the son of the Rev William Thompson that was born in England and died in Braintree MA. Other records are unsure. The Powers of Wickitree have decided not. So I thought Id add this matter to the THOMPSON NAME study, hoping further information might become uncovered. In addition, I have been searching and searching for a MALE Thompson, that has come from an all male line of my Thompson to take a Y DNA test. After years of searching, I found one, (and our Autosomal DNA match is near 80), but he has no interest in taking a Y DNA test. Hoping before my time is up I finally find one. Thanks all!

posted by Dean Thompson

Billie (Bright) Keaffaber
Hi I found this Thompson in my husband Tree I added him to the Indiana Thompson name study.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thompson-81478

Billie

posted by Billie (Bright) Keaffaber

Rachael Booth
I'm looking for descendants of Ernest Eugene Thompson of Ohio, died 1953. He was my birth father. Mother Doris Evelyn Ball Thompson.

posted by Rachael Booth

Breauna McCallister
Hello, My mother's maiden name is Thompson.

Her father was a Thompson. His name was David Robert Thompson (Thompson-71991). David Robert Thompson was: Born - 30 Jun 1943 Died - 13 Nov 2021

His father was Herbert Earl Thompson (Thompson-72081). Herbert Earl Thompson was: Born- 26 Oct 1919 Died- 31 Aug 1994

Herbert's father was Earl Thompson(Thompson-72708). Earl Thompson was: Born - 4 Sep 1899 Died - 0 Sep 1981


Earl's Father was William M Thompson(Thompson-72987). William M Thompson: Born - 10 May 1867 Died - 30 September 1953


And that is as far as I got. Almost all are from West Virginia.


I would love to learn more about the Thompson side of my family. It was the side I grew up with. The ones I was closest to, so the Thompson side holds a special place in my heart,

Thank you.

posted by Breauna McCallister
edited by Breauna McCallister

Ruth (Reeves) Adkins
My great grandfather is Alexander Thompson with the possibility of James as his first name. He used Alexander on all the documents I have found however his son told his children his father's name is James Alexander Thompson, Thompson-37377 we are unsure of his birth date but found his death notice in The Mountain Echo Newspaper in Yellville, Arkansas. (The notice said uncle Alex died of a chill last night). Died 27 Aug 1891 in Yellville, Marion, Arkansas, USA.

Census records state he was born in Tenn. and parents were born in the Carolinas. (Note family search has the wrong parents from Canada). Anyone with experience please feel free to take a look. I will continue to keep looking doing the best I can to learn about him.

posted by Ruth (Reeves) Adkins
edited by Ruth (Reeves) Adkins

Trevor Thompson
My grandparents were George and Sophia (Mosely) Thompson from Sheffield, England. He passed away and is buried in Sheffield, 1938. She passed away in Sheffield 1965. My father, Charles Robert, born Sheffield 1913, lived most of his life in South Africa from 1942. 3 older sisters, 2 married, Winifred Wakeman and Nora Wolstenholme. Middle sister, Nancy, unmarried. Ancestors unknown.

Update: George's father was Charles born 1852, he was an only child. He married Mary Brocklesby. They had 9 children: Jessie, George Robert, frederick, Charles (Chas Hy), Ernest, Gertrude, Norris, Gladys, Oscar. Charles father was James Thompson b 1817 Swaffham, Norfolk, married Sarah Magerson in 1851(both died by 1853) - he was an only child raised by the Easter family. James father was David Thompson born 1782 Little Ellingham, Norfolk, married Anne Fielding in 1807 - 10 children. David's father was John Thompson born 1749, Little Ellingham, married Jane Wright in 1779 - 9 children.

posted by Trevor Thompson
edited by Trevor Thompson

Rachel Thompson
Trevor, my great grandfather was Hedley Thompson from Sheffield, born around 1880. He had two older brothers, one by the name of George which was also their father’s name. I know that both Hedley and George Sr emigrated to New Zealand, I don’t know what year although they were both in NZ at the turn of the century when Hedley went off to the South African/Boer War. Do you know anything of your George Thompson’s father or siblings?

Ah sorry, I have reread to the end of your message and see the answers to my questions!

-Rachel Thompson

posted by Rachel Thompson
edited by Rachel Thompson

Trevor Thompson
See my edits above for updates. Good luck in your search ......

posted by Trevor Thompson

Arlene Thompson
I have both English Thompson and Scottish Thomson ancestors. My Grandfather, David Thompson's, paternal ancestors were from Sussex, England. My Grandmother, Beatrice (Smith) Thompson's, mother was Margaret Thomson, from Dumfries, Scotland.

posted by Arlene Thompson

[Living Thompson]
James Oliver Thompson is my granddad. I can find no documentation previously to marriage to my grandmother. Sure would like to find some.

posted by [Living Thompson]

Marteena Wilson
looking to find parents of Frederick Mervyn Thompson 15 May 1935 - 24 June 2017 in Tasmania, Australia.

posted by Marteena Wilson

Susan (Crawford) Stanley
Looking for parents of Peter Thompson, born in Jersey City, NJ abt. 1896. He was married in Elmont NY to Helen Miller in 1920. Also need to find death records. Thanks for this site!

posted by Susan (Crawford) Stanley

Barb (Mauldin) Stokes
Paternal Grandmother side - Looking for parents for Albert N. Thompson

14 Jul 1860 - 26 Oct 1931, and their ancestors - Tippah Co, MS Albert m. Lucinda K Blakeney

posted by Barb (Mauldin) Stokes

Categories: One Name Studies | Thompson Name Study | DNA Projects