Thompson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the distinguished surname Thompson can be found in Scotland. The name is derived from the popular given name Thomas, an Aramaic name meaning “twin,” and refers to “a son of Thomas or Thom.” [1] The spelling of the name with a “p” distinguishes the family from the Thomsons, who were a Scottish Clan originally known as MacThomais.

Early Origins of the Thompson family

The surname Thompson was first found in Cumberland, where the Thompson family held a family seat from ancient times. However, some of the family were found at Shotton in Durham. “The family of Thompson held property here, chiefly by copy of court-roll, at least as early as the reign of Elizabeth; and from them the estate came by marriage, in the middle of the last century, to the Brandlings.” [2]

“This name is distributed over the greater part of England, but is rare or absent in the south (south of a line joining London and Bristol). Its great home is in the north, in the region north of a line connecting the Humber with Morecambe Bay, and Northumberland in particular is pre-eminent for the number of its Thompsons. It extends in force in its Scottish form of Thomson across the border into Dumfriesshire, Roxburghshire, and is very numerous over a large part of Scotland, but particularly in the region south of the Forth and the Clyde. As we trace it southward from its northern home, we find its numbers rapidly diminishing. It is, however, well represented in the midlands. Further south, again, as above remarked, it becomes rare or dies out altogether.” [3]

Early History of the Thompson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thompson research.

Thompson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tompson, Thompson and others.

Early Notables of the Thompson family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir William Thompson (1614-1681), English politician, Member of Parliament for the City of London (1661 to 1679); Sir Henry Thompson (ca. 1625-1683) was an English wine merchant and politician, Lord Mayor of York (1663), Member of Parliament for York (1673-1683); and his son, Henry Thompson (1659-1700), an English landowner and politician.

Thompson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Thompson is the 17^th most popular surname with an estimated 669,003 people with that name. [4] However, in Canada, the name Thompson is ranked the 19^thmost popular surname with an estimated 62,999 people with that name. [5] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Thompson is the 596^th popular surname. [6] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Thompson as 341^st with 136 people. [7] Australia ranks Thompson as 10^th with 62,098 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Thompson as 11^st with 6,705 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Thompson as 14^th with 137,269 people. [10] South Africa ranks Thompson as 406^th with 17,580 people. [11]

 Migration of the Thompson family to Ireland

Some of the Thompson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

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 Thompson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Thompson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Edward Thompson, who was one of the passengers arriving in Plymouth, Mass on the “Mayflower” in 1620
• David Thompson, who settled in Maine in 1623
• William Thompson, aged 17, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship “George” [12]
• Mr. Richard Thompson, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship “Ark and Dove” [13]
• Mr. William Thompson, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship “Ark and Dove” [13]

Thompson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Dorothy Thompson, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [14]
• Elizabeth Thompson, who landed in Virginia in 1714 [14]
• Allen Thompson, who arrived in New York in 1738 [14]
• Hannah Thompson, who arrived in Maryland in 1740 [14]
• Ebenezer Thompson, who arrived in New England in 1743 [14]

Thompson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Alexander Thompson, who arrived in America in 1800 [14]
• Christian Thompson, who arrived in America in 1801 [14]
• Anna Thompson, aged 30, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [14]
• Hector Thompson, who arrived in America in 1804 [14]
• Hugh Thompson, who landed in America in 1805 [14]

Thompson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Harry Adolph Thompson, who landed in Alabama in 1929 [14]

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 Thompson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Thompson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Thomas Thompson, who arrived in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1756 [15]
• Anthony Thompson, who settled in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774
• George Thompson, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
• Andrew Thompson, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1780 [15]
• Mr. William Thompson U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 226 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA [16]

Thompson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Charles Thompson, who landed in Canada in 1831
• Hiram Thompson, who arrived in Canada in 1831
• James Thompson, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “John & Mary” from Belfast, Ireland
• George Thompson, aged 15, a gentleman, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “Pacific” from Liverpool, England
• John Thompson, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “Pacific” from Liverpool, England

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 Thompson migration to Australia+

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

Thompson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. William Thompson, English convict who was convicted in Buckinghamshire, Englandfor 7 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
• Miss Ann Thompson, (Bruce, Robertson), English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
• Miss Sarah Thompson, (McFie), English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years , transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]

Thompson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Mary Thompson, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
• Mr. John Thompson, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Coromandel” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
• Mr. John Thompson, British Convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Englandfor 14 years, transported aboard the “Coromandel” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
• Mr. William Thompson, British Convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Coromandel” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
• Mr. John Thompson, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Duke of Portland” in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]

Thompson Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

• “Mrs. Eliza Thompson, (b. 1802), aged 26, Scottish needle woman from Dundee who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the “”Competitor”” on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia” [22]
• “Miss Phillis Thompson, (b. 1808), aged 20, English nurse girl who was convicted in Durham, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the “”Competitor”” on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia” [22]

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 Thompson 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: 

Thompson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• R Thompson, who landed in Hokianga, New Zealand in 1834
• Mr Thompson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Middlesex
• David Thompson, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
• William Thompson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• Alexander Thompson, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blenheim” in 1840

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 Thompson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [23]

Thompson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. John Thompson, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler traveling aboard the ship “John” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [24]

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Contemporary Notables of the name Thompson (post 1700) +

• Julian Ogilvie Thompson (1934-2023), South African Rhodes Scholar, Chairman of De Beers and the Anglo American mining company
• Butch Thompson (1943-2022), American jazz pianist and clarinetist born in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, best known for his ragtime and stride performances
• John Albert Thompson (1927-2022), American football executive, first general manager of the Seattle Seahawks from 1976 to 1982
• James Earl “Jimmy” Thompson (1928-2022), American blues guitarist and singer, born in Holly Springs, Mississippi
• Robert Farris Thompson (1932-2021), American historian and writer specializing in the art of Africa and the Afro-Atlantic world, member of the faculty at Yale University from 1965 to his retirement more than fifty years later
• Charles Lemoine “Tim” Thompson (1924-2021), American Major League Baseball catcher who appeared in 187 games over all or parts of four seasons (1954; 1956–58) for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, and Detroit Tigers
• Sue Thompson (1925-2021), born Eva Sue McKee, an American pop and country music singer, best known for the million selling hits “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” and “Norman”
• Leonard Irwin Thompson (1952-2021), American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), spending his entire career with the Detroit Lions (1975–1986)
• Carl E. “Chucky” Thompson (1968-2021), American hip hop and R&B record producer, member of Bad Boy Entertainment’s “Hitmen” team of in-house producers during the 1990s
• Ted Thompson (1953-2021), American professional football player and executive in the National Football League (NFL)

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The Thompson 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: Nosce teipsum
Motto Translation: Know thyself.