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Tomkinson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Tomkinson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Tomkinson is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the Aramaic personal name Thomas, which means twin. This became one of the most popular Christian names in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Tomkinson developed from the pet form Tom, to which the diminutive suffix -kin was appended. The surname also features the suffix -son, which superseded other patronymic suffixes in popularity during the 14th century and was most popular in the north of England.

Early Origins of the Tomkinson family

The surname Tomkinson was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Reasheath from early times. Here, most of the family were found at Willington. "It is situated on the south-west side of Delamere Forest, and comprises 977a. 3r. 17p., of which, deducting 30 acres of wood, two-thirds are pasture and one-third arable land, mostly the property of Colonel Tomkinson. The mansion of Colonel Tomkinson, standing on the borders of the forest, is a modern and elegant building in the Elizabethan style." [1]

Early History of the Tomkinson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tomkinson research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1640 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Tomkinson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tomkinson Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Tomkinson include Tomkinson, Tompkinson, Thomkinson, Thompkinson and others.

Early Notables of the Tomkinson family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Thomas Tomkinson (1631-1710), an English Muggletonian writer from Dovedale, Staffordshire...

Tomkinson migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Tomkinson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Tomkinson, who landed in Maryland in 1651 [2]

Tomkinson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Tomkinson, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1853
Andrew Tomkinson, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1855
Arthur and Joseph Tomkinson, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860

Tomkinson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Tomkinson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Tomkinson, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [3]
Mr. William Tomkinson who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
Mr. John Tomkinson, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda [5]
Miss. Hannah Tomkinson, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [6]

Tomkinson 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:

Tomkinson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Job Tomkinson, (b. 1839), aged 35, English settler from Staffordshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Sussex" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th July 1874 [7]
Mrs. Rose Tomkinson, (b. 1847), aged 27, English settler from Staffordshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Sussex" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th July 1874 [7]
Miss Florence Tomkinson, (b. 1874), aged 6 months, English settler from Staffordshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Sussex" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th July 1874 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Tomkinson (post 1700) +

Derek Tomkinson (1931-2021), English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Burton Albion, Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, and Macclesfield Town
Tara Palmer- Tomkinson (b. 1971), also known as T P-T, an English socialite, television presenter, columnist, model and charity patron
James Tomkinson PC (1840-1910), English landowner and Liberal Party politician, High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1887
Charles Anthony Palmer- Tomkinson (b. 1940), English landowner, a former Olympic skier, and a close friend of Prince Charles
Sir Geoffrey Stewart Tomkinson (1881-1963), English sportsman and industrialist
Francis Martin Tomkinson (1883-1963), English cricketer
James Algernon Palmer- Tomkinson (1915-1952), born James Algernon Tomkinson, a British Olympic alpine ski racer a the 1936 and 1948 Winter Olympics, grandson of James Tomkinson
Samuel Tomkinson (1851-1900), Welsh-born, Australian politician, eponym of the Tomkinson Ranges, Southwest Australia
Vice Admiral Wilfred Tomkinson (1877-1971), British Royal Navy officer, Commander of the Battlecruiser Squadron (1929-1932)
William Tomkinson (1790-1872), Lieutenant-Colonel, author
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html