Show ContentsThomlan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Thomlan

What does the name Thomlan mean?

The Celtic origin of the name Thomlan was long ago developed in Wales. This surname comes from the names Tam, Thom, and Tom, which are pet forms of the personal name Thomas. The surname Thomlan features a double diminutive, formed from the suffixes -el and -in. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Thomlan family

The surname Thomlan 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 they were conjecturally descended from Elystan Glodrydd, Prince of Fferllys, through Thomas of Llyn Madoc. Hence Tomlyn, in North Wales was commonly replaced by an 'a' hence Tamlyn.

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. Today we typically need to look beyond the spellings of these entries and concentrate on a phonetic appreciation of the names. Peter Tamelyn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 4 "The 14th - cent. English forms are Tomelyn, Thomelyn, Tomlyn, Thomlyn." 2 In Somerset, John Tomelyn and John Thomelyn were both listed there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Thomlan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thomlan research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1621, 1629, 1650, 1750, 1762, 1763, 1772, 1774, 1787, 1803, 1804, 1811, 1815, 1820, 1827, 1828, 1841 and 1872 are included under the topic Early Thomlan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Thomlan Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Thomlan name over the years has been spelled Tamblyn, Taplin, Tapling, Tomblyn, Tomlyn, Tomline and many more.

Early Notables of the Thomlan family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Richard Tomlins or Tomlyns (1563-1650), an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629; and Sir George Pretyman Tomline (1750-1828), born George Pretyman, Bishop of Lincoln (1787-1820.) He was "tutor of the younger Pitt, and bishop of Winchester, was the son of George Pretyman of Bury St. Edmunds, by his wife Susan, daughter of John Hubbard. His father represented an ancient and respectable Suffolk family which had held land at Bacton in Suffolk from the fifteenth century. Tomline (who until 1803 bore the name...
Another 176 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thomlan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Thomlan family

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Thomlan: Henry Tomlin, who arrived in Virginia in 1638; Robert Tomlin arrived in Maryland in 1685; Matthew Tomlin arrived in Virginia in 1636; Sara Thomblin arrived in Virginia in 1650.



The Thomlan 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: Quondam his vicimus armis
Motto Translation: We formerly conquered with these arms.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook