Tom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The name Tom came to England with the ancestors of the Tom family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the ancient given name Thomas, which itself is derived from the Aramaic name Teoma, meaning twin. 1

Early Origins of the Tom family

The surname Tom was first found in Essex, where John Thomme was listed at Colchester in 1311. Later, John Thoms was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. 1

Early History of the Tom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tom research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1433, 1473 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Tom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tom Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Thom, Thomes, Thome, Toms, Tom, Thoms and others.

Early Notables of the Tom family

More information is included under the topic Early Tom Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tom World Ranking

In the United States, the name Tom is the 3,986^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Tom is ranked the 9,087^th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 3 And in South Africa, the name Tom is the 636^th popular surname with an estimated 10,840 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Tom family to Ireland

Some of the Tom family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tom migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Tom name or one of its variants:

Tom Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anna Barbara Tom, aged 34, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 5
Christiana Tom, aged 2, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1730 5
Joseph Tom, aged 35, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 5

Tom Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mathias Tom, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 5
Swaya Tom, who landed in Mississippi in 1896 5

Tom migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tom Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss Mary P. Tom, (b. 1834), aged 21, Cornish servant departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking 6
Mr. William Tom, (b. 1838), aged 17, Cornish labourer, from Blisland, Cornwall, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 6

Tom migration to Australia +

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

Tom Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Tom, (b. 1819), aged 18 born in Truro, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 24th March 1837, sentenced for death reduced to 7 years for housebreaking, transported aboard the ship "Susan" on 1837 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 7
Mr. William Tom, (b. 1833), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer, from St. Mawgan, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Lady Ann" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 29th September 1854 8
Mr. Henry Tom, (b. 1863), aged 22, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Wistow Hall" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 25th August 1885 9

Tom 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:

Tom Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Tom, (b. 1873), aged 2, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1875 aboard the ship "Waikato" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 3rd October 1875 10
Mrs. Sarah J. Tom, (b. 1847), aged 28, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1875 aboard the ship "Waikato" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 3rd October 1875 10
Mr. William Tom, (b. 1846), aged 29, Cornish farm labourer departing on 27th June 1875 aboard the ship "Waikato" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 3rd October 1875 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Tom (post 1700) +

Nathaniel Tom, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Queens County, 1781-83; Appointed 1781 11
Maeley Lock Tom (b. 1941), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1988, 1996, 2000; Presidential Elector for California, 2012 11
David Tom (b. 1978), American actor, best known for his role as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless, twin of Nicole Tom
Nicholle "Nicole" Tom (b. 1978), American actress, best known for her roles as Ryce Newton in Beethoven (1992), Beethoven's 2nd (1993), Beethoven (1994-1995), and as Maggie Sheffield on The Nanny
Michael Tom (1946-1999), American sculptor from Honolulu, Hawaii, he received the Catharine E. B. Cox Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts in 1992
Peter Tom (1964-2018), Solomon Island politician, Member of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands
Peter Tom Wolfenden MBE (1935-2023), New Zealand driver and trainer of Standardbred racehorses who had 1762 career race wins in New Zealand as a driver, and 798 as a trainer, inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
Bernard Tom Hadfield (1934-1935), New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand National Team (1956-1961)
H. Tom Padilla, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 61st District, 1978
Monnie Tom Cheves (1902-1988), American college professor and politician, Louisiana State Representative from Natchitoches Parish (1952-1960)