Show ContentsTomis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the surname Tomis lie in the rugged landscape of Wales. Tomis was a popular Medieval given throughout Europe, coming from 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.

Early Origins of the Tomis family

The surname Tomis was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries), where the family claims descendance from Owen Glendower, Lord of Glyndwyrdwy, Prince of South Wales.

Early History of the Tomis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tomis research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1613, 1633, 1654, 1656, 1665, 1677, 1683, 1689 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Tomis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tomis Spelling Variations

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. 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 Tomis has occasionally been spelled Thomas, Tomas, MacThomas, FitzThomas, Thomasett and others.

Early Notables of the Tomis family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir William Thomas of Folkington; Rt. Rev. William Thomas D.D. (1613-1689), a Welsh Anglican bishop, Dean of Worcester (1665-1683), Bishop of St...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tomis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Tomis family to Ireland

Some of the Tomis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tomis family

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 Tomis: 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.



The Tomis Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: I dduw bo'r diolch
Motto Translation: To God be thanks.


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