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From www.HouseOfNames.com Archives copyright © 2000 - 2009
Origins Available: English-Alt, English, German, Welsh-Alt, Welsh
Where did the Welsh Thomas family come from? What is the Welsh coat of arms/family crest? When did the Thomas family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?
The roots of the surname Thomas lie in the rugged landscape of Wales. Thomas was a popular Medieval given throughout Europe, coming the popular biblical name. It is ultimately derived from the Aramaic personal name meaning "twin." Prior to the Norman Conquest, this name was rarely found, but by the 13th and 14th centuries, it became extremely common in Britain.Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. At this time, there were no uniform spelling rules and because the general population was illiterate, they could not specify a particular rendition of their names. Therefore, scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Thomas has occasionally been spelled Thomas, Tomas, MacThomas, FitzThomas, Thomasett and others.
First found in Breconshire, where the family claims descendance from Owen Glendower, Lord of Glyndwyrdwy, Prince of South Wales.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Thomas: Joe, John, Robert, and Nathaniel Thomas, who all settled in Virginia in 1621; as did Christopher Thomas in 1635 and Evan Thomas in 1653; Henry Thomas, who came to Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in 1685.
Motto Translated: To God be thanks.
For more information on the last name Thomas, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.
Suggested Readings for the name Thomas
- Ancestors and Kin... by Robert Walden Coggeshall.
- The Descendants of William Thomas by Francis Marion Ammon.
- Thomas Ancestors: A History of a Thomas Family by Mark Everett Thomas.
Some noteworthy people of the name Thomas
- William Thomas, American, Jazz bassist
- Charles Thomas (1790-1848), American politician, Governor of Delaware, 1823-24
- Cyrus Thomas (1825-1910), American anthropologist and entomologist
- Danny Thomas (1914-1991), American nightclub comedian and television and film actor (born Muzyad Yahkoob)
- Dave Thomas (1932-2002), the founder of Wendy’s International restaurant chain
- Margaret "Marlo" Thomas (b. 1938), American actress best known for her role as Ann Marie on the television show "That Girl."
- Edward Donnall Thomas (b. 1920), American physician, researcher, co-winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Medicine
- Michael Tilson Thomas (b. 1944), American conductor, pianist and composer
- George Henry Thomas (1816-1870), American soldier
- Martha Crey Thomas (1857-1935), American feminist
- Norman Mattoon Thomas (1884-1968), American socialist leader
- Sergeant Herbert Joseph Thomas, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1943
- Private First Class William H Thomas, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
- George Thomas (1909-1997), Viscount Tonypandy, Welsh Labor politician, Welsh secretary 1968-1970 speaker of British House of Commons 1976-1983
- Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), famous Welsh surrealist poet, best-known works include "Under Milk Wood" and the celebrated villanelle for his dying father, "Do not go gentle into that good night"
- Daniel Lleufer Thomas (1863-1940), Welsh lawyer
- Hugh Owen Thomas (1833-1891), Welsh orthopaedic surgeon
- Margaret Haig Thomas (1883-1958), Welsh feminist
- Ronald Stuart Thomas (b. 1913), Welsh poet and priest
- Peter John Mitchell Thomas PC , QC (1920-2008), Baron Thomas of Gwydir, Welsh Conservative politician
- Sir Frederick William Thomas, Australian, member of the Royal Australian Air Force, and Lord Mayor of the city of Melbourne from 1957-1959
- Dr. Earle S. Thomas Ph.D. (b. 1916), noted Canadian historian and author, honorary vice-president of the United Empire Loyalists of Canada
- Edward Thomas (1878-1917), English poet
- James Henry Thomas (1874-1949), British statesman and labor leader
- Albert Thomas (1878-1932), French politician
- Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896), French composer
- Philip Edward Thomas (1878-1917), English poet
- Sidney Gilchrist Thomas (1850-1885), English metallurgist
Tell Me More About Family Crests
Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist
We have researched the Thomas family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.
Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...
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Family Crests: Timeline
Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...
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Family Crests: Elements
In the Thomas coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...
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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate
We encourage you to study the Thomas genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...
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Thomas Family Crest Products
Anniversary products for the name Thomas. Apparel for the Thomas family crest. Armorial histories for the name Thomas. Ceramics showing the Thomas family crest. Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces. Coat of Arms for the name Thomas. Downloads with the coat of arms for the name Thomas. Family Crest for the name Thomas. Family Tree for the Thomas family crest. Hand Painted Plaques with a Thomas coat of arms. Keychains revealing the family crest for the surname Thomas. Mouse pads featuring the Thomas family crest. New Products proudly displaying the Thomas family crest. Packages with a Thomas family crest. Plaques and Frames with a Thomas family crest. Surname Histories for the name Thomas. Symbolism proudly displaying the Thomas coat of arms. Travel Mugs with a Thomas family crest. |
The Thomas Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Thomas Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
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