Contents [hide]

Thomsen History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Thomsen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Denmark
Scotland
Ireland
England

Thomsen is one of the proud Scottish names to come from the Strathclyde clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is derived from the ancient personal name Thomas, meaning twin.

Early Origins of the Thomsen family

The surname Thomsen was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where the first listings of the name were found in the early 1300s. They include: John Thomson, "a man of low birth, but approved valour", leader of the men of Carrick in Edward Bruce's war in Ireland in 1318 and Adam Thomson who was listed as Lord of Kylnekylle, Ayrshire c. 1370-80. Closing out that century was Johannes filius Thome who was elected bailie of Aberdeen in 1398. 1

In the 15th century, we found: "John Tomson [who] witnessed a grant in Ayr in 1401. Donald Thomson was one of an inquest to determine the rights of pasturage which the Temple lands had over the adjoining town and territory of Letter in 1461. John Thomsoun was juror on an inquest at Dunipace in 1426 (Cambus., 87), Duncan Thomsone of Auchinhampteris witnessed a bond of manrent in 1491." 1

Just over the border in Yorkshire England, records there show Adam Thomasson and Johannes Thomasson as holding lands there at the time of the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls in 1379. 2

Interestingly there is a record of the family far to the south and west in the parish of Tywardreath, Cornwall, England. "Treveryon-house and barton in this parish have been for many generations the property and occasional residence of the family of Thomson. This is now the property and abode of their representative H. Thomson, Esq. a captain in the Royal Cornwall Militia. Treveryon-house occupies an interesting situation, and claims something more than the mere mention of its name. In its front, it has four pillars of the Ionic order, cut from Cornish granite, of which they exhibit beautiful specimens. The front of this building displays much architectural elegance. The whole house is neat and commodious, and as a genteel residence according to its magnitude, it is deservedly to be reckoned among the abodes of gentility in this county. " 3

Early History of the Thomsen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thomsen research. Another 330 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1318, 1370, 1461, 1511, 1517, 1527, 1539, 1547, 1561, 1588, 1608, 1613, 1619, 1636, 1668, 1676, 1700, 1735, 1750, 1763, 1765, 1771, 1779, 1799, 1801, 1803, 1809, 1817, 1830, 1831, 1841, 1843, 1846, 1875 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Thomsen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thomsen Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Thomsen has been spelled Thomson, Tomson, Tamson, Thomsoun, M'Comie and others.

Early Notables of the Thomsen family

Notable amongst the family at this time was George Thomson (c. 1619-1676), an English physician, medical writer and pamphleteer, leading figure in an attempt to create a "College of Chemical Physicians"; and Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham (1799-1841), British politician, the first Governor of the united Province of Canada. Laurence Tomson (1539-1608), was an English politician, author, and translator, born in Northamptonshire and Richard Tomson (fl. 1588), was an English mariner who may presumably be identified with the Richard Tomson of Yarmouth. 4 Alexander Thomson (1763-1803) was a Scottish poet, born in Edinburgh, and was an close friend of Robert Anderson (1750-1830.)...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thomsen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thomsen Ranking

In the United States, the name Thomsen is the 4,103^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Thomsen family to Ireland

Some of the Thomsen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thomsen migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Thomsen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomsen, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, in 1892
Agnes Thomsen, aged 8, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892

Thomsen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Aarariel Thomsen, aged 0, who immigrated to the United States from Aashad, Denmark, in 1907
Aage Thomsen, aged 11, who landed in America from Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1909
Alagne Thomsen, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States from Aastrug, Denmark, in 1909
Albert Thomsen, aged 9, who landed in America from Strandesburg, Denmark, in 1909
Abbe Thomsen, aged 20, who landed in America from Hvorup, Denmark, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Thomsen migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Thomsen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Peter Thomsen, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ida Zeigler" in 1863
Maria Thomsen, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ida Zeigler" in 1863
Anna Thomsen, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ida Zeigler" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Thomsen (post 1700) +

Cecilie Thomsen (b. 1974), Danish actress and model internationally best known for playing professor Inga Bergstrom opposite Pierce Brosnan in the 1997 James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies
Vilhelm Ludwig Peter Thomsen (1842-1927), Danish linguist
Christian Jürgensen Thomsen (1788-1865), Danish archaeologist best known for suggesting the Stone, Bronze, and Iron ages divisions

Historic Events for the Thomsen family +

Bismarck

Heinz Thomsen (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details