Thompson (surname)
| Pronunciation | /ˈtɒmpsən/ TOMP-sən |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Son of Thom, Son of Thomas, Son of Tom |
| Region of origin | Scotland and England |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Di Tommaso, Thom, Thomas, Thomason, Thomassen, Thomasson, Thomson, Tom, Tomadze, Tomašević, Tomashov, Tomashvili, Tomaszewicz, Tomescu, Tommasi, Tumasian, Tumasyan, MacTavish, McTavish, Tavish |
| [1][2][3][4] | |
Thompson is a surname of English, Irish and Scottish origin which is a variant of Thomson, meaning 'son of Thom'.[5] Thom(p)son is also the English translation of MacTavish, which is the Anglicised version of the Gaelic name MacTamhais.[6][7]
An alternative origin may be geographical, arising from the parish of Thompson in Norfolk.[8] During the Plantation period, settlers carried the name to Ireland.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Thompson was the 23rd most frequently reported surname, accounting for 0.23% of the population.[9]
Notable people
A
- Aaron Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Adaline Emerson Thompson (1859–1951), American educational worker and reformer
- Adam Thompson (born 1992), English footballer
- Aidan Thompson (born 2002), American ice hockey player
- Al Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alan Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alberto Thompson (1907–1957), American chemist and nuclear scientist
- Alexander Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alexandra Thompson (1867–1907)
- Alfred Hill Thompson (1839–1874), British architect
- Allen Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alvin W. Thompson (born 1953), American judge
- Alyssa Thompson (born 2004), American soccer player
- Andrew Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Anthony Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Archie Thompson (born 1978), Australian footballer
- Arthur Herbert Thompson (1890–1916), English soldier and football player
B
- Barry Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Benjamin Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Betty L. Thompson (1939–2021), American politician from Missouri
- Bill Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- B. J. Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Blake Thompson (born 1993), Australian footballer
- Bodene Thompson (born 1988), New Zealand Rugby League player
- Bradley Thompson (born 1951), American television producer and writer
- Brent Thompson (born 1971), Canadian ice hockey player
- Brian Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bronwyn Thompson (born 1978), Australian long jumper
- Bryan Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bryce Thompson (basketball) (born 2002), American basketball player
- Bryce Thompson (American football) (born 1999), American football player
- Bubba Thompson (born 1998), American baseball player
C
- Calvin Thompson (born 1964), American basketball coach
- Cameron Thompson (born 1960), Australian politician
- Carl Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Carlos Thompson (1923–1990), Argentine actor
- Carol Thompson, American civil servant
- Caroline Thompson (born 1956), American novelist and film director
- Carroll Thompson (born 1960), British rock singer
- Casey Thompson (born 1998), American football player
- Cec Thompson (1926–2011), British rugby league footballer
- Cecil Thompson, multiple people
- Charles Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chris Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Christian Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Christopher Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ciarán Thompson (born 1994), Irish-Gaelic footballer
- Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (born 1996), Irish singer-songwriter
- Clifford Thompson (1904–1955), American film actor
- Clyde Thompson (1910–1979), American prison chaplain
- Cody Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Corey Thompson, Australian rugby league footballer
- Corey Thompson (American football), American football linebacker
- Colin Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Craig Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
D
- D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1860–1948), Scottish biologist and mathematician
- Daley Thompson (born 1958), Olympic gold medalist
- Daniel Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Darwin Thompson (born 1997), American football player
- Daryl L. Thompson, American inventor and entrepreneur
- Dave Thompson (born 1959), English actor, stand-up comedian, writer
- David Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dean R. Thompson (born 1967), American diplomat
- Dean Thompson (racing driver) (born 2001), American stock car racer
- Debbie Thompson (1942–2019), American sprinter
- Declan Thompson (born 2002), English footballer
- Deionte Thompson (born 1997), American football player
- Del Thompson (born 1958), American football player
- Deonte Thompson (born 1989), American football player
- Derek Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Des Thompson (1928–2010), English footballer
- Dickie Thompson (1917–2007), American guitarist and songwriter
- Dicky Thompson (born 1957), American professional golfer
- Dijon Thompson (born 1983), American basketball player
- D. J. Thompson (born 1985), American basketball player
- Don Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dorothy Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Duane Thompson (1903–1970), American actress
- Duncan Thompson (1895–1980), Australian rugby league footballer
- Dwayne Thompson (born 1950), American politician
- Dylan Thompson (born 1991), American football player
E
- Edith Thompson (1893–1923), English murderer
- Edith Thompson (historian), historian and lexicographer
- Edward Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Elaine Thompson (born 1992), Jamaican sprinter
- Eli Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Elinor P. Thompson, British microbiologist and plant scientist
- Eliza Thompson (1816–1905), American temperance advocate
- Elizabeth Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ellen R. Thompson (1928–2014), American composer and music educator
- Elsie Thompson (1899–2013), American supercentenarian
- Elsie Nwanwuri Thompson, Nigerian lawyer
- Emma Thompson (born 1959), British actress and screenwriter
- E. P. Thompson (1924–1993), British 'new-left' historian
- Eric Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ernest Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people, including Ernie Thompson
- E. S. L. Thompson (1848–1944), American writer
- Ethan Thompson (born 1999), Puerto Rican basketball player
- Eva Griffith Thompson (1842–1925), American newspaper editor
- Evan Thompson (born 1962), Canadian professor of philosophy
F
- Fiona Thompson, English cellist
- Flora Thompson (1876–1947), English novelist and poet
- Frances Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Francis Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frank Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frederick Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
G
- Gary Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- George Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Georgia Thompson (born 1950), American civil servant wrongfully convicted of corruption, but later exonerated
- Georgie Thompson (born 1977), British broadcast journalist and television presenter
- Geraldine Thompson (1948–2025), American politician in Florida
- Geraldine Morgan Thompson (1872–1967), American social reform pioneer in New Jersey
- Glenn Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Grace Thompson (1891–1???), American silent film actress
- Graham Thompson (swimmer) (born 1964), Zimbabwean swimmer
- Gregory Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gwen Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
H
- Hank Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harold Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harry Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Helen F. Thompson, American businesswoman, teacher, and politician
- Henry Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Herbert Thompson Jr. (1933–2006), American prelate
- Holly Thompson (born 1998), New Zealand curler
- Hope Thompson, Canadian writer
- Hugh Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005), U.S. journalist and author
I
- Ian Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Israel Thompson (1742–1805), American soldier and politician
J
- J. Lee Thompson (1914–2002), British film director
- Jack Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jackson Thompson (born 1986), Indian cricketer
- Jacob Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jake Thompson (born 1994), American baseball player
- Jalen Thompson (born 1998), American football player
- James Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jamie Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jasmine Thompson (born 2000), British singer and YouTube celebrity
- Jason Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jean Thompson (athlete) (1910–1976), Canadian runner
- Jeff Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jennifer Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jenny Thompson (born 1973), American former swimmer and anaesthesiologist
- Jeremy Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jerome Thompson (born 1988), American lacrosse player
- Jerry Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jesse Thompson, (1749–1834), American soldier and politician
- Jim Thompson (writer) (1906–1977), American writer
- Joe Thompson (rugby) (1902–1983) British rugby union and rugby league footballer
- John Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jonathan Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jordan Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joseph Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Josh Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Judith Thompson (born 1954), Canadian playwright
- Justin Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
K
- Kamila Thompson (born 1983), British singer-songwriter
- Katherine Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kay Thompson (1909–1998), American author
- Keegan Thompson (born 1995), American baseball player
- Keith Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kelly Thompson, American author
- Kemel Thompson (born 1974), Jamaican hurdler
- Kenneth Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kenan Thompson (born 1978), American actor
- Kerstin Thompson (born 1965), Australian architect
- Kevin Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Keytaon Thompson (born 1998), American football player
- Kirsten Moana Thompson (born 1964), scholar of American and New Zealand cinema and visual culture
- Kirt Thompson (born 1967), Trinidad and Tobago javelin thrower
- Klay Thompson (born 1990), American basketball player; son of Mychal (below)
- Kristen Thompson, American politician and state senator
- Kristin Thompson (born 1950), American film theorist and author
- Kyle Thompson (born 1992), American photographer
L
- L. F. Thompson, (1827–1894), American politician
- Laird A. Thompson (born 1947), American astronomer
- LaMarcus Adna Thompson (1848–1919), American inventor, known for his early work developing roller coasters, sometimes called the "Father of Gravity"
- Larry Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Laura Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lea Thompson (born 1961), American actress and director
- Lee Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Leonard Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lexi Thompson (born 1995), American golfer
- Liam Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Libby Thompson (1855–1953), American frontier prostitute and madam
- Lincoln Thompson (1949–1999), Jamaican reggae artist
- Linda Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lindsay Thompson (1923–2008), Australian politician
- Lisa Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Llewellyn Thompson (1904–1972), American Ambassador to Austria and Soviet Union
- Logan Thompson, (born 1997), Canadian ice hockey goaltender
- Lois Thompson, American football player
- Loren P. Thompson (1927–2015), American politician
- Lucas P. Thompson (1797–1866), American lawyer and politician
- Lucky Thompson (1924–2005), American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist
- Luke Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lyle Thompson (born 1992), American lacrosse player
M
- Marcus Thompson (born 1946), American violinist
- Marc Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson (1786–1868), Argentine patriot and salonnière
- Mark Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marlana Thompson (born 1978), Mohawk beadwork artist, regalia maker, and fashion designer
- Marr Thompson, (1856–1938), Australian arts critic
- Martin Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mary Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marvin Thompson (born 1977/8), British poet
- Mason Thompson (born 1998), American baseball player
- Matthew Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Max Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mel Thompson (basketball) (1932–2009), American basketball coach
- Michael Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mildred Thompson (1935–2003) American painter, sculptor and printmaker
- Miles Thompson (born 1990), American lacrosse player
- Miles Thompson (architect) (1808–1868), English architect
- Morris Thompson (1939–2000), American politician and businessman
- Mychal Thompson (born 1955), Bahamian–American basketball player and broadcaster
- Mychel Thompson (born 1988), American basketball player; son of Mychal
- Myron Thompson (1936–2019), Canadian politician
N
- Nainoa Thompson (born 1953), Hawaiian navigator
- NaJee Thompson (born 2000), American football player
- Nathan Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ned Thompson (1910–2011), American football and basketball coach
- Nick Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Nigel Thompson, Irish cricketer
- Norman Thompson (footballer) (1900–1989), English footballer
O
- Obadele Thompson (born 1976), Barbadian sprinter
- Oliver Thompson (born 1988), English guitarist and songwriter
- Owen Thompson (born 1978), Scottish politician
P
- Patricia Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Patrick Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Paul Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Pauline Thompson (1942–2012), New Zealand artist
- Pearl Thompson (born 1957), British musician in The Cure
- Peter Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Peyton Thompson (born 1990), American football player
- Phillip Thompson (born 1988), Australian politician
R
- Rachel Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ralph Thompson (footballer) (1892–1916), English footballer
- Randall Thompson (1899–1984), American composer
- Randall Thompson (boxer) (born 1964), Canadian boxer
- Randy Thompson (born 1963), American singer-songwriter
- Rangi Thompson (1910–1971), New Zealand rower
- Raymond Thompson (1949–2025), New Zealand television writer and producer
- Reginald Campbell Thompson (1876–1941), British archaeologist and epigraphist
- Richard Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Robert Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rocky Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Roger Thompson (soccer) (born 1991), Canadian soccer player
- Roly Thompson (1932–2003), English cricketer
- Ron Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ruth Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ryan Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
S
- Sada Thompson (1927–2011), American actress
- Samuel Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sarah Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Scott Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Scottie Thompson (born 1981), American actress
- Sean Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Shakiel Thompson (born 1997), English boxer
- Shaq Thompson (born 1994), American football player
- Shawn Thompson (born 1958), Canadian actor and director
- Shedrick Thompson (died 1932), African American suicide victim
- Sheldon Thompson (1785–1851), American politician from Buffalo, New York
- Shirley Thompson, British composer, conductor and violinist
- Silvanus P. Thompson (1851–1916), English physicist
- Siobhan Thompson (born 1984), British-American sketch comedian and comedy writer
- Skylar Thompson (born 1997), American football player
- Smith Thompson (1768–1843), American jurist
- Soren Thompson (born 1981), American épée fencer
- Stanley Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Steve Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Stuart Thompson Irish cricketer
- Sue Thompson (1925–2021), American pop and country singer
- Susanna Thompson (born 1958), American television and film actress
- Sydney Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
T
- Tage Thompson (born 1997), American ice hockey player
- Teddy Thompson (born 1976), British musician
- Tedric Thompson (born 1995), American football player
- Tessa Thompson (born 1983), American actress
- Thomas Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Torger G. Thompson (1853–1923), American politician
- Tony Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tiny Thompson (1905–1981), Canadian professional ice hockey goalie
- Trayce Thompson (born 1991), American baseball player, son of Mychal
- Trenton Thompson (born 1996), American football player
- Tristan Thompson (born 1991), Canadian basketball player
- Tyrone Thompson (footballer) (born 1982), English footballer
- Tyrone Thompson (politician) (1967–2019), American politician
V
- Victor Thompson (1885–1968), Australian politician
- Vince Thompson (born 1957), American football player
W
- Wallace Thompson (1896–1952), American politician
- Walter Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Wilbur Thompson (1921–2013), American shot putter
- William Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Whitney Thompson (born 1987), American fashion model, winner of America's Next Top Model, cycle 10
- Woodrow R. Thompson (1919–1942), American Marine Corps sergeant and posthumous Navy Cross recipient
- Wright Thompson (born 1976), American sportswriter
Z
- Zachary Thompson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Zack Thompson (born 1997), American baseball player
- Zadock Thompson (1796–1856), American naturalist
- Zoe Thompson (born 1983), New Zealand footballer
Fictional characters
- Thomson and Thompson, detectives in The Adventures of Tintin (English language version)
- Flash Thompson, in Marvel Comics
- Gwen Thompson, American Girl character from the Chrissa books and movie
- Nancy Thompson, in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise
- Nucky Thompson, in the American TV series Boardwalk Empire
- Sarah Thompson, in the Home and Away soap opera
Further reading
- "Thompson Surname Meaning, Origins & Distribution". forebears.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
- "Thom(p)son is MacTavish". ClanMacTavish.org.
References
- ^ 1990 Census Name Files Archived 2010-10-07 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
- ^ "Scottish Thompson Name is MacTavish". Clanmactavish.org. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "Clan Creep" (PDF). Claymore. Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, COSCA: 17. July 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
- ^ "Clan MacThomas Society - Clan Creep" (PDF). An Drochaid - The Bridge. 52 (1). Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada: 4. April 2024. ISSN 0703-1491.
- ^ Quinn, Seán E. (2000), Surnames in Ireland (Google Snippet), Bray, Ireland: Irish Genealogy Press, p. 173, ISBN 978-1-871509-39-7, OCLC 48632352, retrieved 1 January 2012
- ^ "Clan MacTavish Surname Origin and Variant Spellings" (PDF). Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ "The Transition of the MacGilletSamhais, MacStibhan, and Tahd Surnames being Associated Family Names of the Clan MacTavish OR How and Why Gaelic Surnames changed to Latin or Anglo-English" (PDF). Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ Redmonds, George; King, Turi; Hey, David (2011), "Hereditary Surnames", Surnames, DNA, and Family History, New York: Oxford University Press, Classifying Surnames, ISBN 978-0-19-162036-2, retrieved 1 Jan 2012
- ^ "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the 2010 Census". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
See also
- Clan MacTavish, ancient Scottish Highland clan
- MacTavish, a surname
- McTavish, a related given name
- Tavish, a related given name