Thomas

Background:  An Aramaic name meaning 'twin'. Before the Norman Conquest, Thomas is found only as the name of a priest. After the Conquest it became one of the most popular Christian names. The first letter of the name was originally the Greek "theta" which accounts for the TH spelling.

The Thomas surname is of patronymic origin, that is, it is based on the first name of the father. In this case, it means "son of Thomas". The Thomas surname is found throughout the United Kingdom, but is generally considered to be Welsh in origin.

According to Harleian Manuscripts, which in many cases are the first recorded existence of a family's lineage, the name Thomas was recorded in the following main counties: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, CORNWALL, HEREFORDSHIRE, KENT, MIDDLESEX, SURREY, and SUSSEX. Harleain manuscripts were recorded for English and Welsh families during the time after the Conquests, roughly between 1530 and 1700.

Name Variations:  Thomas, Tomas, Thomason, Thomerson, Thomazin.

References:
One or more of the following publications has been referenced for this article.
The General Armory; Sir Bernard Burke - 1842.
A Handbook of Mottoes; C.N. Elvin - 1860.

---

The beautiful heraldry artwork for this family is available to purchase on select products from the Celtic Radio Store. We look forward to filling your order!

Discuss Search Sign-up for a Founders account and receive personalized family heraldry service and much more! Want to know more? Click the Heart!