Surname Tomlins - Meaning and Origin

Tomlins: What does the surname Tomlins mean?

The last name Tomlins is of English origin and is a pet form of the name "Thomas." The name Thomas is derived from Aramaic and translates to "twin." Therefore, Tomlins essentially means "son of Thomas" or "son of the Twin." During the Middle Ages, it was common practice to derive surnames from the father's name, thereby indicating lineage. Thus, the name Tomlins would originally have been indicative of being the offspring or descendant of a man named Thomas. As with many British surnames, Tomlins is fairly widespread throughout England, but particularly in the Southern regions. However, the name can be found all over the British Isles due to historical migration patterns.

Tomlins: Where does the name Tomlins come from?

The last name Tomlins is most commonly found in England, particularly in the Midlands. The name originates from 'TomLinc' which was derived from 'Tom' - a diminutive of Thomas, and 'Linc' - referring to Lincolnshire, a county in the East Midlands of England. Tomlins is widely present in the Midlands and neighbouring areas of Yorkshire and Lancashire in large numbers.

It is also common in the United States, where it is most common in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. The Tomlins family moved to the United States in the 19th century during the mass migration from Europe, where it is found largely in the northeast region of the states mentioned above.

In addition to England and the United States, Tomlins is also found in other countries such as Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand. It is likely that the name spread to these countries in a similar manner as it did in the US - through immigration from England to these new countries.

Given the history and current locations of the Tomlins family, it is likely the name will become more and more widespread into different countries as people continue to move and migrate around the world.

Variations of the surname Tomlins

The surname Tomlins is an anglicized version of the patronymic surname Tomlinson, which is a name derived from a father’s given name, Tom. It is an Anglicization of the Old Norse personal name Tomlin, a form of Toke, which was similarly derived from the Old Scandinavian Given Name Thor. Tomlinson has a variety of associated spellings and alternate surnames, including: Tomlinson(s), Tolinson, Tomlyn(s), Tomson, Tomlinson(s), Tolin(s), Tomlennon, Tomeling, Tomlin, Tomlen, Tomsonn, Tomsonne, Tomilin, Tomlinsonne, Tomelen, Tomalyne, Tomaleyne, Tomlenne, Tomlenney, Tolman, Tomlinny and Tomlans. These variations in spelling can be attributed to an unstable literary tradition, low literacy rates, regional accents and literal interpretations of the names when recorded. The origination of the surname Tomlinson traces back to Lancashire, England, where it was mainly known from the 11th Century. Similar variants have also been found across Cumbria and northern England as well as in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Famous people with the name Tomlins

• Susanna Tomlins: Irish guitarist and singer-songwriter
• Sam Tomlins: British actor, writer, and director
• Brittney Tomlins: American Paralympic swimmer
• Jim Tomlins: American professional basketball player
• Robert Tomlins: English Catholic theologian
• Bill Tomlins: British WW2 pilot
• Lily Elsie Tomlins: British operatic soprano
• Rob Tomlins: Professional Australian Rules Footballer
• Alfred Tomlins: English cricketer
• William Henry Tomlins: British Scotland Yard Chief Inspector

Other surnames

TomlinTomlinson