Etymology

Thomson

T1H4O1M3S1O1N1

Today it means: A British surname transferred from the given name. Full definition →

Scottish Gaelic MacTamhais
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The story

  1. Scottish Gaelic · calque ofMacTamhais“MacTavish”
  2. English todayThomson

From Tom + -son, originally meaning "son of Thomas". In some instances of people so named, a calque of Scottish Gaelic MacTamhais (“MacTavish”). Also an anglicisation of the Gaelic name MacTamhais, meaning "son of Thomas". Many with the name MacTavish changed their name to Thomson and Thompson after Culloden. Being derived from Thomas ultimately gives this surname an Aramaic derivation - teoma 'twin'.

Words from the same roots

Scottish GaelicMacTamhais all →

ThompsonMacTavish

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.