Thomas (surname)
Encyclopedia
Thomas is a common surname used in British (primarily Welsh), French, German, Dutch, Danish, and southern India (Nasrani
).
It derives from the medieval personal name
, of Biblical origin, from Aramaic t'om'a, a byname meaning 'twin'. It was borne by one of the disciples of Christ
, best known for his scepticism about Christ's resurrection (John 20:24–29). The th- spelling in English results from the initial letter of the name in the Greek New Testament being a theta
. The English pronunciation as t rather than a dental fricative is the result of French influence from an early date. In Britain, the surname
is widely distributed throughout the country, but especially common in Wales
and Cornwall
. Thomas is the ninth most common surname in the United Kingdom. It is found as a personal name among Christians in India, and in the United States; it is used as a family name
among families from southern India.
In the 1990 United States Census, Thomas was the twelfth most common surname, accounting for 0.3% of the population.
In France, Thomas is the third most widespread surname after Martin
and Bernard
, with over 100,000 people with this name.
Syrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
).
It derives from the medieval personal name
Personal name
A personal name is the proper name identifying an individual person, and today usually comprises a given name bestowed at birth or at a young age plus a surname. It is nearly universal for a human to have a name; except in rare cases, for example feral children growing up in isolation, or infants...
, of Biblical origin, from Aramaic t'om'a, a byname meaning 'twin'. It was borne by one of the disciples of Christ
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
, best known for his scepticism about Christ's resurrection (John 20:24–29). The th- spelling in English results from the initial letter of the name in the Greek New Testament being a theta
Theta
Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth...
. The English pronunciation as t rather than a dental fricative is the result of French influence from an early date. In Britain, the surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
is widely distributed throughout the country, but especially common in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Thomas is the ninth most common surname in the United Kingdom. It is found as a personal name among Christians in India, and in the United States; it is used as a family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
among families from southern India.
In the 1990 United States Census, Thomas was the twelfth most common surname, accounting for 0.3% of the population.
In France, Thomas is the third most widespread surname after Martin
Martin (name)
Martin may either be a surname or given name.Martin is a common given and family name in most European languages. It comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a late derived form of the name of the Roman god Mars, the protective godhead of the Latins...
and Bernard
Bernard
The masculine given name Bernard is of Germanic origin.The meaning of the name is from a Germanic compound Bern-hard meaning "bear-hardy", or "brave as a bear". Bern- is the old form of bear from West Germanic *beran-....
, with over 100,000 people with this name.
A
- Ambroise ThomasAmbroise ThomasCharles Louis Ambroise Thomas was a French composer, best known for his operas Mignon and Hamlet and as Director of the Conservatoire de Paris from 1871 till his death.-Biography:"There is good music, there is bad music, and then there is Ambroise Thomas."- Emmanuel Chabrier-Early life...
, French opera composer - Anthony Thomas, multiple people
- Augusta Read ThomasAugusta Read ThomasAugusta Read Thomas is an American composer.Augusta Read Thomas was born in Glen Cove, New York. She attended The Green Vale School and later moved on to St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and then studied composition with Jacob Druckman at Yale University and at the Royal Academy of...
(born 1964), American composer
B
- Bill Thomas (author)Bill Thomas (author)Bill Thomas is an American author and photojournalist, the son of William Roy Thomas and Margaret Elizabeth Thomas born on the family farm near Glendale, Kentucky.-Biography:...
, Author, photojournalist - Brett ThomasBrett ThomasBrett Thomas is an Australian ice hockey player currently playing for the Sydney Ice Dogs in the Australian Ice Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Australian ice hockey player
C
- Carl Thomas, multiple people
- Charles Thomas, multiple people
- Chris Thomas, multiple people
- Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasClarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
, United States Supreme Court justice - Craig L. Thomas, United States senator from Wyoming
D
- Dafydd Elis-ThomasDafydd Elis-ThomasDafydd Elis Elis-Thomas, Baron Elis-Thomas, PC, AM, is a Welsh politician and was the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales until 2011...
, Welsh politician - Dana ThomasDana ThomasDana Thomas is a fashion and culture journalist based in Paris. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Wayne, Pa., Thomas earned a B.A...
, Fashion journalist - Danny ThomasDanny Thomas (disambiguation)Danny Thomas , was an American comedian, actor and philanthropist.Danny Thomas may also refer to:* Danny Thomas , former England and Tottenham Hotspur footballer...
, multiple people - David Thomas, multiple people
- David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda, Welsh industrialist and politician
- Dean Thomas, multiple people
- Delano ThomasDelano ThomasDelano Thomas is an American indoor volleyball player, who plays as a middle hitter for the U.S. National Team. He was named Best Server at the 2007 Pan American Games, where Team USA claimed the silver medal in the men's team tournament.-References:*...
, American indoor volleyball player - Dick ThomasDick ThomasEdward John Richard 'Dick' Thomas was a Welsh international rugby union back who played club rugby for Mountain Ash.-Rugby career:...
Wales international rugby player - Dean Thomas, a fictional character from Harry Potter
- Dylan ThomasDylan ThomasDylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
, Welsh poet
E
- Edward Thomas, multiple people
- Earle ThomasEarle ThomasWilliam Earle Thomas more commonly known as Earle Thomas was a soccer player who represented New Zealand at international level.Thomas' clubs included Hamilton, University-Mount Wellington, Eastern Suburbs AFC, and Blockhouse Bay....
, New Zealand international footballer - Eric Thomas, multiple people
G
- Gareth Thomas, multiple people
- Georg ThomasGeorg ThomasGeorg Thomas was a German general and a resistance fighter in the Third Reich. He was also heavily involved in the planning and carrying out of the economic exploitation of the Soviet Union, including in particular the Hunger Plan.- Career summary :Thomas was born in Forst , Brandenburg...
German general - George Housman ThomasGeorge Housman ThomasGeorge Housman Thomas , was an English engraver, illustrator and Victorian era painter.-Life:...
(1824–1868), English painter and illustrator - George Thomas, multiple people
- Geraint ThomasGeraint ThomasGeraint Howell Thomas, MBE is a Welsh professional racing cyclist who rides for the UCI ProTour team . A track cycling world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the team pursuit, Thomas has also enjoyed success on the road, winning the Junior Paris-Roubaix in 2004, the British National...
(born 1986), Welsh racing cyclist - Gerald ThomasGerald ThomasGerald Thomas was an English film director, born in Hull.-Early life:Thomas was training in medicine when the Second World War began. He then served in the British army during the war, in Europe and the Middle East...
, English film director - George Henry ThomasGeorge Henry ThomasGeorge Henry Thomas was a career United States Army officer and a Union General during the American Civil War, one of the principal commanders in the Western Theater....
(July 31, 1816 – March 28, 1870) the "Rock of Chickamauga", Union General - Gordon Thomas (politician)Gordon Thomas (politician)Gordon L. Thomas was the mayor of East Lansing, Michigan from 1961-71. He was a Democratic candidate for delegate to a constitutional convention to rewrite the Michigan Constitution during 1961–1962 from Ingham County 2nd District.His service as mayor of East Lansing in the 1960s was amid...
H
- Héctor ThomasHéctor ThomasHéctor Thomas Martínez is a retired track and field athlete from Venezuela, who competed in the decathlon. He represented his native country in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1960. Thomas twice won a medal at the Pan American Games during the 1960s.-References:*...
, Venezuelan decathlete - Helen ThomasHelen ThomasHelen Thomas is an American author and former news service reporter, member of the White House Press Corps and opinion columnist. She worked for the United Press and post-1958 successor United Press International for 57 years, first as a correspondent, and later as White House bureau manager...
, US-American journalist - Horace ThomasHorace ThomasHorace Wyndham Thomas was a Welsh international rugby union fly-half who played club rugby for Swansea. He won just two caps for Wales, and was one of thirteen Welsh internationals to die in conflict during World War I....
, Welsh rugby player - Hugh ThomasHugh ThomasHugh Thomas , is a British historian and life peer.Hugh Thomas may also refer to:* Hugh Thomas , American choral conductor, pianist and educator* Hugh Thomas , Australian rules football coach...
, British historian - Hugh Evan-ThomasHugh Evan-ThomasVice Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas GCB, KCMG, MVO was a British Royal Navy officer.During World War I he commanded the 5th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet, flying his flag in HMS Barham, and fought at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May – 1 June 1916.-Background:Evan-Thomas' family came from...
, British admiral
I
- Ian Thomas, multiple people
- Isaiah ThomasIsaiah ThomasIsaiah Thomas , was an American newspaper publisher and author. He performed the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Worcester, Massachusetts and reported the first account of the Battles of Lexington and Concord...
, revolutionary-era newspaper publisher - Isiah ThomasIsiah ThomasIsiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
, American basketball player - Isiah Thomas (boxer)Isiah Thomas (boxer)Isiah Thomas is an American boxer best known to win the first ever Junior World Boxing Championship for the United States at the 2005 Cadet World Championships on October 18 in Liverpool, England.-Amateur:...
, American boxer - Iwan ThomasIwan ThomasIwan Gwyn Thomas MBE is a sprinter who represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Olympic Games in the 400 m, and Wales at the Commonwealth Games. Thomas is the current UK record holder at 400 m with a time of 44.36 seconds and is a former European and Commonwealth games champion...
, British Olympic athlete
J
- James Thomas, multiple people
- James Henry ThomasJames Henry ThomasJames Henry "Jimmy" Thomas was a British trade unionist and Labour politician. He was involved in a political scandal involving budget leaks.-Early career and Trade Union activities:...
, British politician - Jerome ThomasJerome ThomasJerome William Thomas is an English footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion predominantly as a left winger, but can also operate centrally...
(born 1983), English footballer - Jerry Thomas, multiple people
K
- Karl ThomasKarl ThomasKarl Thomas was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during the Boxer Rebellion who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, American Medal of Honor recipient - Keith Thomas, multiple people
- Kenny ThomasKenny Thomas (disambiguation)Kenneth Thomas, Kenny Thomas, or Ken Thomas may refer to:* Ken Thomas , Welsh trade unionist and General Secretary of the Civil and Public Services Association...
, multiple people - Kristin Scott ThomasKristin Scott ThomasKristin A. Scott Thomas, OBE is an English actress who has also acquired French nationality. She gained international recognition in the 1990s for her roles in Bitter Moon, Four Weddings and a Funeral and The English Patient....
, English actress - Kurt Thomas, multiple people
L
- Lee Emmett ThomasLee Emmett ThomasLee Emmett Thomas was an attorney and banker who served as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1922–1930. He was also from 1912–1916 the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.-Background:...
(1866-1935), Louisiana politician - Lewis Cobden ThomasLewis Cobden ThomasLewis Cobden Thomas was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Neath and Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales. In 1900 he became the Mayor of Neath.-Personal history:...
(1865-1928), Wales international rugby player - Linn ThomasLinn ThomasLinn Thomas is an American erotic model.Thomas became a Playboy Playmate in May 1997. In October 2000, she became a Penthouse Pet of the Month and the first pin-up model in history to have appeared in both Playboy and Penthouse as a centerfold model...
, American erotic model - Llewellyn ThomasLlewellyn ThomasLlewellyn Hilleth Thomas was a British physicist and applied mathematician. He is best known for his contributions to atomic physics, in particular:...
(1903-1992), British physicist - Lorenzo ThomasLorenzo ThomasLorenzo Thomas was a career United States Army officer who was Adjutant General of the Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. After the war, he was appointed temporary Secretary of War by President Andrew Johnson, precipitating Johnson's impeachment.-Early life:Thomas was born in New...
(1804–1875) Secretary of War under Andrew JohnsonAndrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American... - Lorenzo Thomas (poet)Lorenzo Thomas (poet)Lorenzo Thomas was an American poet and critic. He was born in the Republic of Panama and grew up in New York City, where his family immigrated in 1948.-Life:Thomas was a graduate of Queens College in New York...
(1944–2005) - Lowell ThomasLowell ThomasLowell Jackson Thomas was an American writer, broadcaster, and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous...
Author; radio commentator
M
- Malcolm ThomasMalcolm ThomasMalcolm Thomas was a Welsh international centre who played club rugby for Newport. He won 27 caps for Wales and was selected to play in the British Lions on two tours of Australia and New Zealand. A versatile player, Thomas found himself being moved between centre and wing and was chosen many...
, Wales international rugby union captain - Mansel ThomasMansel ThomasMansel Treharne Thomas OBE was a composer and conductor, who worked mainly in south Wales. He was one of the most influential musicians of his generation, known as a composer, conductor and adjudicator. He was for many years employed by the BBC and promoted the careers of many composers and...
Welsh composer and conductor - Marjorie ThomasMarjorie ThomasMarjorie Gwendolen Thomas was an English opera and oratorio singer for almost three decades.Thomas sang at the Royal Opera House and was a regular performer at the Promenade Concerts and the Three Choirs Festivals and, for many years, a professor of singing at London's Royal Academy of Music...
(1923–2008), English opera and oratorio singer - Marlo ThomasMarlo ThomasMargaret Julia “Marlo” Thomas is an American actress, producer, and social activist known for her starring role on the TV series That Girl . She also serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...
, American actress, daughter of Danny Thomas - Martyn ThomasMartyn ThomasMartyn Thomas CBE FREng FBCS FIET FRSA is a British independent consultant and software engineer. He founded the software engineering company Praxis in 1983, based in Bath, southern England. He has a special interest in safety-critical systems and other high integrity applications...
, British software engineer - Martyn Thomas (rugby player)Martyn Thomas (rugby player)Martyn Thomas is a Welsh rugby player in the Newport Gwent Dragons since February 2007. He plays in the full back position and was previously with the Scarlets.He went to UWIC from 2005–2008...
, Welsh rugby union player - Matthew James ThomasMatthew James ThomasMatthew James Thomas is a British actor, best known for his role in the UK drama/musical show, Britannia High.-Early life:...
, British actor - Matthew Thomas, multiple people
- Michael ThomasMichael Thomas (disambiguation)Michael Thomas may refer to:* Michael Thomas , Labour Party member of the UK Parliament who defected to the SDP* Michael Thomas , English footballer* Michael Thomas , English footballer...
, multiple people - Mickey Thomas, multiple people
P
- Peter Wynne-ThomasPeter Wynne-ThomasPeter Wynne-Thomas is an English cricket writer, historian and statistician who has for many years been the archivist and librarian of Nottinghamshire CCC...
, English writer and historian on the subject of cricket - Petria ThomasPetria ThomasPetria Ann Thomas OAM is an Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medallist and a winner of 15 national titles. She was born in Lismore, New South Wales and grew up in the nearby town of Mullumbimby....
(born 1975), Australian swimmer - Phillip Michael Thomas (born 1949), American actor, singer, and music producer
R
- Ray ThomasRay Thomas (disambiguation)Ray Thomas may refer to:*Ray Thomas, founder and member of the rock band The Moody Blues*Ray Thomas , Canadian judge and politician*Ray Thomas , Australian rugby league footballer...
, multiple people - Richard Thomas, multiple people
- Rob Thomas, multiple people
- Robert Lindsay ThomasRobert Lindsay ThomasRobert Lindsay Thomas is an American politician and businessman.Thomas was born in Patterson, Georgia. After graduating from Patterson High School in 1961, he attended the University of Georgia in Athens and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966...
, American politician - Ronald Stuart Thomas, Welsh poet
- Roy ThomasRoy ThomasRoy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
, American comic book writer, and former editor-in-chief for Marvel Comics - Rozonda ThomasRozonda ThomasRozonda Ocelean Thomas , best known by her stage name Chilli, is a four-time Grammy Award–winning American R&B singer and actress who rose to fame as one third of the successful R&B/Hip-Hop/Pop girl group TLC.-Early life:...
, American R&B singer - Rufus ThomasRufus ThomasRufus Thomas, Jr. was an American rhythm and blues, funk and soul singer and comedian fromMemphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the...
, American R&B singer - Roseanne Thomas, American actress
- Ryan Drew Thomas, the American mixed martial arts fighter
- Ryan James ThomasRyan ThomasRyan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...
, the English actor
S
- Sam B. ThomasSam B. ThomasSam B. Thomas, Sr. , was a Kentucky educator who served from January 1972 until December 1986 as a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from Lebanon, the seat of Marion County.- Biography :...
(1925-2007), KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making... - Sarah Thomas, multiple people
- Shavar ThomasShavar ThomasShavar Thomas is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and college:...
(born 1981), Jamaican footballer - Sheray ThomasSheray ThomasSheray Thomas is a male basketball player from Canada, who plays as a forward. He ended up in seventh place with the Canada national men's basketball team at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
, Canadian basketball player - Sonya ThomasSonya ThomasSonya Thomas , also known by her nickname The Black Widow, is a top-ranked Korean-born American competitive eater from Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas joined the International Federation of Competitive Eating in 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the ranks, beating competitive eaters such as Ed...
, American competitive eater - Stephen Thomas, multiple people
- Susan Thomas, Baroness Thomas of WalliswoodSusan Thomas, Baroness Thomas of WalliswoodSusan Petronella Thomas, Baroness Thomas of Walliswood OBE, DL is a British businesswoman and Liberal Democrat politician.-Family background:...
, British businesswoman and politician - Scott Thomas, multiple people
T
- Tim Thomas, multiple people
- Tommy Thomas, multiple people
- Thurman Thomas (born 1966), American football player
V
- Vernon Thomas, multiple people
- Viv ThomasViv ThomasVivian "Viv" Thomas is a South African-born British producer of pornographic movies. He has produced hundreds of features over the course of his 15+ year career. He specializes in producing lesbian pornography as well as foot fetish videos...
, British pornographic director - Vivien ThomasVivien ThomasVivien Theodore Thomas was an African-American surgical technician who developed the procedures used to treat blue baby syndrome in the 1940s...
, American medical researcher