Thomson is a

patronymic surname A patronymic surname is a surname originated from the given name of the father or a patrilineal ancestor. Different cultures have different ways of producing patronymic surnames. For example, early patronymic Welsh surnames were the result of th ...

meaning "son of Thom, Thomp, Thompkin, or other

diminutive A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formati ...

Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

", itself derived from the

Aramaic The Aramaic languages, short Aramaic ( syc, ܐܪܡܝܐ, Arāmāyā; oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; tmr, אֲרָמִית), are a language family containing many varieties (languages and dialects) that originated in ...

תום or ''Tôm'', meaning "twin". The surname is documented in

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

records before and after the 1066

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conque ...

. Variations include Thomason, Thomasson, Thomerson, Thomoson, and others. The French surname Thomson is first documented in

Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...

and is the shortened form for Thom son, Thom son. Variations include Thomassin, Thomason, Thomsson, Thomesson, Thomeson, and others. Thomson is uncommon as a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'',

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, 2nd edition, , p.260.

List of persons with the surname

Disambiguation of common given names with this surname

* Thomson Rodrigues * Adam Thomson (disambiguation) * Andrew Thomson (disambiguation) *

David Thomson (disambiguation) David Thomson may refer to: Business * David Couper Thomson (1861–1954), Scottish publisher, founder of D. C. Thomson & Co. * David Kinnear Thomson (1910–1992), Scottish businessman * David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet (born 1957), Cana ...

* Edward Thomson (disambiguation) *

Ian Thomson (disambiguation) Ian Thomson may refer to: *Ian Thomson (Fiji) (1920–2008), British colonial administrator in Fiji and Administrator of the British Virgin Islands *Ian Thomson (cricketer) (1929–2021), English cricketer who played five Test matches *Ian Thomson ...

* James Thomson (disambiguation) *

John Thomson (disambiguation) John Thomson may refer to: Entertainment * John Thomson of Duddingston (1778–1840), Scottish minister and landscape artist * John Thomson (composer) (1805–1841), Scottish composer * John Thomson (photographer) (1837–1921), Scottish photogra ...

* Julius Thomson (disambiguation) * Richard Thomson (disambiguation) *

William Thomson (disambiguation) William, Billy or Bill Thomson may refer to: Military * William Thomson (American soldier) (1727–1796), American militia captain in Capture of Savannah * William Taylour Thomson (1813–1883), British military officer and diplomat * William M ...

Arts and letters

Alexander Thomson Alexander "Greek" Thomson (9 April 1817 – 22 March 1875) was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was ...

(1817–1875), Scottish architect *

Beatrix Thomson Beatrix Thomson (1900–1986) was a British stage actress. She also made a handful of appearances in film and television. A graduate of RADA, she made her West End debut in John Galsworthy's '' Loyalties'' in 1922. She was married to the actor ...

(1900–1986), British actress *

Beverly Thomson Beverly D. Thomson (born April 15, 1966) is a Canadian journalist and correspondent with CTV News Channel. Along with Seamus O'Regan, Thomson was co-host of ''Canada AM'', CTV's former national morning show, from 2003 to 2016. In 2006, she re ...

(born 1966), Canadian journalist *

Charles Thomson (artist) Charles Thomson (born 6 February 1953) is an English artist, poet and photographer. In the early 1980s he was a member of The Medway Poets. In 1999 he named and co-founded the Stuckists art movement with Billy Childish. He has curated Stuckis ...

(born 1953), British artist, painter and poet *

Cyndi Thomson Cyndi Thomson (born October 19, 1976) is an American country music artist. Thomson wrote songs with songwriter Tommy Lee James and in 2000, she signed with Capitol Records Nashville as a recording artist. She released her first album, '' My Wor ...

(born 1976), American country music singer * Edward William Thomson (writer) (1849–1924), Canadian journalist and writer * Frederick Clifton Thomson (1890–1928), American silent film cowboy actor *

George Thomson (musician) George Thomson (1757–1851), born at Limekilns, Fife, Scotland, was a noted collector of the music of Scotland, a music publisher, and a friend of Robert Burns. He was clerk to the board of trustees in Edinburgh for 60 years. His '' A Select ...

(1757–1821), Scottish music collector *

Hugh Thomson Hugh Thomson (1 June 18607 May 1920) was an Irish people, Irish Illustration, Illustrator born at Coleraine near Derry. He is best known for his pen-and-ink illustrations of works by authors such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and J. M. Bar ...

(1860–1920), Irish illustrator *

Hugh Thomson (writer) Hugh Thomson is a British travel writer, film maker and explorer. His ''The Green Road Into Trees: A Walk Through England'' won the 2014 Wainwright Prize for nature and travel writing. He was appointed as a Royal Literary Fund fellow at Oxford ...

, English travel writer *

Kenneth Thomson (actor) Charles Kenneth Thomson (January 7, 1899 – January 26, 1967) was an American character actor active on stage and on film during the silent and early sound film eras. Early years Born in Pittsburgh, Thomson was the son of Edith Taylor Thomson ...

(1899–1967), American character actor *

Lily James Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson (born 5 April 1989), better known by her stage name Lily James, is an English actress. She studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and began her career in the British television series ''Ju ...

(born Lily Thomson in 1989), English actress *

Margaret Thomson Margaret Thomson (10 June 1910 – 30 December 2005) was an Australian-born documentary filmmaker who divided her forty-year career between New Zealand and England. She was the first female film director active in New Zealand. Family and educat ...

(1910–2005), Australian-New Zealand filmmaker * R. H. Thomson (b. 1947), Canadian television, film, and stage actor *

Riley Thomson Riley A. Thomson Jr. (October 5, 1912 – January 26, 1960) was an American animator and comics artist who spent most of his career working with Walt Disney films and characters. He directed six Disney short films including ''The Nifty Nineties'' ...

(1912–1960), American animator and comics artist *

Robert James Thomson Robert Thomson (born 11 March 1961) is an Australian journalist. Since January 2013 he has been chief executive of News Corp. Life Thomson was born in Torrumbarry, Victoria, and studied at Christian Brothers College in St Kilda East, and at ...

, Australian journalist *

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet Roy Herbert Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, (5 June 1894 – 4 August 1976) was a Canadian-born British newspaper proprietor who became one of the moguls of Fleet Street in London. He first came to prominence when he was selling radios in ...

(1894–1976), Canadian newspaper and media entrepreneur * Rosemary Thomson, Canadian conductor *

Rupert Thomson Rupert Thomson, FRSL (born November 5, 1955) is an English writer. He is the author of thirteen critically acclaimed novels and an award-winning memoir. He has lived in many cities around the world, including Athens, Berlin, New York, Sydney, L ...

(b 1955), English author * Sebastian Thomson, drummer and musician *

Tom Thomson Thomas John Thomson (August 5, 1877July 8, 1917) was a Canadian artist active in the early 20th century. During his short career, he produced roughly 400 oil sketches on small wood panels and approximately 50 larger works on canvas. His w ...

(1877–1917), Canadian artist *

Valentine Thomson Valentine Mathilde Amélie Thomson (3 June 1881 – 15 January 1944) was an influential French journalist, playwright and editor, who was active both in Europe and the United States. Daughter of the left-wing politician Gaston Thomson, in 1919 s ...

(1881–1944) French writer, philanthropist and women's rights activist *

Virgil Thomson Virgil Thomson (November 25, 1896 – September 30, 1989) was an American composer and critic. He was instrumental in the development of the "American Sound" in classical music. He has been described as a modernist, a neoromantic, a neoclassic ...

(1896–1989), American composer

Politics, law, and government

Charles Thomson Charles Thomson (November 29, 1729 – August 16, 1824) was an Irish-born Patriot leader in Philadelphia during the American Revolution and the secretary of the Continental Congress (1774–1789) throughout its existence. As secretary, Thomson ...

, secretary of the Continental Congress *

Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham, (13 September 1799 – 19 September 1841) was a British businessman, politician, diplomat and the first Governor General of the united Province of Canada.

(1799–1841), first Governor of the united Province of Canada *

Craig Thomson (politician) Craig Robert Thomson (born 31 July 1964 in Wellington, New Zealand) is an Australian former trade union official and a former politician implicated in the Health Services Union expenses affair. Thomson was the national secretary of the Health ...

, Australian politician * Edwin Keith Thomson (1919–1960), member of the U.S. House of Representatives * Edward William Thomson (1794–1865), member of the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada *

Gaston Thomson Gaston Thomson was a French politician born 29 January 1848 in Oran, French Algeria; died 14 May 1932 at Bône (Algeria). He was a member of the French Chamber of Deputies for the Department of Constantine for fifty years and three months. He w ...

(1848–1932), French politician *

Kelvin Thomson Kelvin John Thomson (born 1 May 1955) is a former Australian politician. From March 1996 to May 2016, Thomson was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Wills in Victoria. In Fe ...

, Australian politician *

Lodewijk Thomson Lodewijk Willem Johan Karel Thomson (11 June 1869 – 15 June 1914) was a Dutch military commander and politician. He served as a member of the Dutch parliament between 1905 and 1913. In 1914, he became the commander of a newly created Int ...

(1869–1914), Dutch soldier and politician * Meldrim Thomson, Jr., New Hampshire governor *

Michelle Thomson Michelle Rhonda Thomson (née Perks; born 11 March 1965) is a Scottish businesswoman and Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. She has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Falkirk East since May 2021. Thomson is the co-fou ...

, Scottish National Party politician and member of Parliament * Michael Thomson (judge), Manitoba judge * Roy Hendry Thomson (1932–2009), businessman, public servant and political activist *

Susan Thomson Susan Michelle Thomson (born 1968) is a Canadian human rights lawyer and professor of peace and conflict studies at Colgate University. She worked in Rwanda for years in various capacities and is known for her books focusing on the post-genocide ...

(born 1962) Canadian human rights lawyer and professor of peace and conflict studies * Thyra Thomson (1916–2013), Secretary of State of Wyoming * Vernon Wallace Thomson (1905–1988), American politician

Sciences and medicine

Arthur Landsborough Thomson Sir Arthur Landsborough Thomson FRSE PZS CB LLD (8 October 1890 – 9 June 1977) was a Scottish medical researcher, mainly remembered as an amateur ornithologist and ornithological author and acknowledged expert on bird migration. Life He wa ...

(1890–1977), Scottish ornithologist *

Carl Gustaf Thomson Carl Gustaf Thomson (13 October 1824, in Malmöhus County, Malmöhus – 20 September 1899, in Lund) was a Sweden, Swedish entomologist. Thomson became a student in the University of Lund in 1843, graduated in 1850 and became associate professor ...

(1824–1899), Swedish entomologist. * Charles Wyville Thomson (1830–1882), professor of zoology and chief scientist on the Challenger expedition *

Donald Thomson Donald Finlay Fergusson Thomson, OBE (26 June 1901 – 12 May 1970) was an Australian anthropologist and ornithologist who was largely responsible for turning the Caledon Bay crisis into a "decisive moment in the history of Aboriginal-Europea ...

(1901–1970), Australian anthropologist and ornithologist *

Elihu Thomson Elihu Thomson (March 29, 1853 – March 13, 1937) was an English-born American engineer and inventor who was instrumental in the founding of major electrical companies in the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Early life He was born ...

(1853–1937), English engineer, founder of what became the French firm Thomson SA * G. Thomson (1760–1806), English geologist who worked in Italy and discovered the Widmanstätten figures *

George Paget Thomson Sir George Paget Thomson, FRS (; 3 May 189210 September 1975) was a British physicist and Nobel laureate in physics recognized for his discovery of the wave properties of the electron by electron diffraction. Education and early life Thomson ...

(1892–1975), English physicist who worked on the wave nature of the electron (son of J. J. Thomson) *

J. J. Thomson Sir Joseph John Thomson (18 December 1856 – 30 August 1940) was a British physicist and Nobel Laureate in Physics, credited with the discovery of the electron, the first subatomic particle to be discovered. In 1897, Thomson showed that ...

(Sir Joseph John Thomson, 1856–1940), English physicist who discovered the electron *

Joseph Thomson (explorer) Joseph Thomson (14 February 1858 – 2 August 1895) was a British geologist and explorer who played an important part in the Scramble for Africa. Thomson's gazelle and Thomson's Falls, Nyahururu are named after him. Excelling as an explorer ra ...

(1858–1895), a Scottish geologist * Reginald H. Thomson (1856–1949), Seattle civil engineer * Robert Thomson (inventor) (1822–1873), Scottish inventor * Thomas Thomson jr. (1817–1878), Scottish botanist * Thomas Thomson sr. (1773–1852), Scottish chemist *

William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, (26 June 182417 December 1907) was a British mathematician, mathematical physicist and engineer born in Belfast. Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow for 53 years, he did important ...

(1824–1907), British physicist

Sports

* Akiko Thomson (born 1974), Filipina television host, journalist and retired swimmer * Alexander Aird Thomson (1917–1991), Scottish chess master *

Billy Thomson (footballer, born 1958) William Marshall Thomson (10 February 1958 – February 2023) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Thomson played for Partick Thistle, St Mirren, Dundee United, Clydebank, Motherwell, Rangers and Dundee. He played for Dun ...

, Scottish football goalkeeper * Billy Thomson (footballer, fl. 1891–1900), Scottish football winger *

Bob Thomson Robert Thomson (29 December 1890 – 1971) was an English footballer who played during the early 20th century, mainly prior to World War I. Playing as a forward, Thomson carved out a career in the game despite having only one eye, resulting f ...

, English footballer *

Bobby Thomson Robert Brown Thomson (October 25, 1923 – August 16, 2010) was a Scottish Americans, Scottish-born American professional baseball player, nicknamed the "Staten Island Scot". He was an outfielder and right-handed batter for the New York Giants ( ...

(1923–2010), Scottish-born American baseball player *

Brandon Thomson Brandon Terry Thomson (born 7 March 1995) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Scottish Pro14 side Glasgow Warriors. His regular position is fly-half. Rugby union career Youth: Pumas and South African Schools As a p ...

, South African rugby union player *

Brent Thomson Brent Thomson (born 1958 in Wanganui) is a New Zealand jockey, who is best known for winning the Cox Plate on four occasions and his association with the champion horse Dulcify. The son of a leading trainer Kevin Thomson, Brent became the c ...

(born 1958), New Zealand jockey * Cammy Thomson (1948–1996), Scottish footballer * Craig Thomson, Scottish footballer * Craig Thomson, Scottish football referee * Darran Thomson, Scottish footballer * Des Thomson (born 1942), New Zealand cyclist * Edmund Thomson (1874–1914), English cricketer *

Fergus Thomson Fergus Matthew Andrew Thomson (born 18 September 1983) is a Scottish rugby union hooker who plays for Glasgow Warriors. He was a member of the Scotland squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. Thomson made his Celtic League début in Nov ...

, a Scottish rugby player * Florence Frankland Thomson (1885–1939), Scottish chess player * Gary Thomson, Irish cyclist *

Ian Thomson (cricketer) Norman Ian Thomson (23 January 1929 – 1 August 2021) was an English cricketer who played in five Tests for England in 1964 and 1965. Thomson was only weeks away from his 36th birthday when he was selected for Test duties, a recognition of hi ...

(1929–2021), English cricketer * J. M. Archer Thomson (1863–1913), British rock-climber and mountaineer *

Jason Thomson Jason Thomson (born 26 July 1987) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Kelty Hearts. Thomson is a right-back and has previously played for Heart of Midlothian, Livingston, Dunfermline and Raith Rovers. Career Youth career A ...

, Scottish footballer *

Jeff Thomson Jeffrey Robert Thomson (born 16 August 1950) is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he is one of the fastest bowlers in the history of cricket; he bowled a delivery with a speed of 160.6 km/h against the West Indies in Perth ...

(born 1950), Australian cricketer * Kathryn Thomson (born 1996), British short track skater * Keith Thomson (sportsman), New Zealand cricketer *

Ken Thomson (footballer) Kenneth Gordon Thomson (25 February 1930 – 15 June 1969) was a Scottish footballer, who played in the Football League for Hartlepools United, Middlesbrough and Stoke City. He made 278 appearances for Stoke. Career Born in Aberdeen, Thomson w ...

, Scottish footballer * Kenny Thomson (born 1951), Scottish footballer *

Kevin Thomson Kevin Thomson (born 14 October 1984) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player. Thomson played as a midfielder for Hibernian (three spells), Rangers, Middlesbrough and Dundee and represented Scotland. Thomson began his c ...

, Scottish footballer * Lawrie Thomson, Scottish footballer * Matthew Thomson, small-bore rifle champion *

Peter Thomson Peter Thomson may refer to: * Peter Thomson (golfer) (1929–2018), Australian golfer * Peter Thomson (diplomat) (born 1948), Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations * Peter Thomson (footballer) (born 1977), English footballer * Peter ...

, Australian professional golfer *

Rob Thomson Robert Lewis Thomson (born August 16, 1963) is a Canadian professional baseball manager for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. During Thomson’s playing career, he was a catcher and third baseman in the Detroit Tigers organi ...

, Canadian baseball manager * Robert Thomson (1875–1954), Scottish professional golfer

Other

* Edward Thomson, bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church * Iain Donald Thomson, American philosopher *

Judith Jarvis Thomson Judith Jarvis Thomson (October 4, 1929November 20, 2020) was an American philosopher who studied and worked on ethics and metaphysics. Her work ranges across a variety of fields, but she is most known for her work regarding the thought experimen ...

(1929–2020), American moral philosopher *

Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet Kenneth Roy Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet (September 1, 1923 – June 12, 2006), known in Canada as Ken Thomson, was a Canadian/British businessman and art collector. At the time of his death, he was listed by ''Forbes'' as the richest per ...

(1923–2006) *

Mowbray Thomson General Sir Mowbray Thomson (April 1, 1832 – February 25, 1917) was an officer in the British East India Company. Thomson was born in "Bhurtpore" (modern day Bharatpur, Rajasthan), India on April 1, 1832. He was educated in England and att ...

(1832–1917), British Army officer and author * Douglas Thomson White aka Doogie White (born 1960), Scottish rock singer *

John Turnbull Thomson John Turnbull Thomson (10 August 1821 – 16 October 1884) was a British civil engineer and artist who played an instrumental role in the development of the early infrastructure of nineteenth-century Singapore and New Zealand. He lived the last 2 ...

, British engineer who lived in Singapore and New Zealand *

Mick Thomson Mickael Gordon "Mick" Thomson (born November 3, 1973) is an American musician. He is one of two guitarists for the heavy metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #7. Thomson originally met founding Slipknot members Anders Colsefni, Donn ...

, American musician, known as the guitar in heavy metal band Slipknot

In fiction

Thomson Thomson may refer to: Names * Thomson (surname), a list of people with this name and a description of its origin * Thomson baronets, four baronetcies created for persons with the surname Thomson Businesses and organizations * SGS-Thomson Mic ...

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

References

{{surname, Thomson English-language surnames Patronymic surnames Scottish surnames Surnames from given names