Surname MacThomas - Meaning and Origin

MacThomas: What does the surname MacThomas mean?

The last name MacThomas originates from Scotland and means "son of Thomas." It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Tomás," which is the Gaelic equivalent of Thomas, and the prefix "Mac," which means "son of". The surname came into being when a certain individual named Thomas was distinguished from others by referring to his son as MacThomas, which signifies "son of Thomas." The MacThomas clan traces back to the 15th century in Glenshee in Perthshire, Scotland. Clan members later dispersed throughout the country after their lands were confiscated due to their participation in a rebellion. Hence, this last name represents heritage from a Scottish clan dating back centuries ago. Like other Gaelic surnames, it offers a sense of kinship and family loyalty within its bearers. It holds significant historical and cultural connotations in Scottish tradition. The MacThomas clan remains active today, maintaining Scottish tradition and fostering connections among descendants.

MacThomas: Where does the name MacThomas come from?

The last name MacThomas is most commonly associated with Scotland, where it is thought to have originated. The surname can be traced back to the clans of MacThomas of Fintry, a powerful sept of the Clan Chattan.

The modern-day incidence of the name MacThomas is most highly concentrated around the Scottish Highlands. Less common, but still seen in several areas, is its use in Ireland, due to a migration of the MacThomas clan from Scotland in the 17th century.

The surname MacThomas can also be found in parts of the United Kingdom, such as England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is mostly due to MacThomases leaving their homeland in Scotland to seek work and opportunities elsewhere in the UK.

In Scotland, the names MacThomas and its variant forms are 196th in terms of its frequency as a surname. The name is seen in more dispersed areas outside of Scotland too, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and India.

In recent years, with the rise of online connectivity, it has become easier to trace and research family names like MacThomas. As such, there is now the ability to connect families with a shared surname, sharing news, photos and stories of common ancestry across the world.

Variations of the surname MacThomas

The MacThomas surname is derived from an old Gaelic name and can take many forms. It is often Anglicized and can be spelled in a variety of ways. It may be spelled as McThomas, MacThomson, MacThomason, MacTavish, or MacTavishson, among other variations. The "Mac" portion of the surname indicates that it is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Thomas". The Gaelic spelling of the name may also appear as MacTómas, MacTuamhais, or MacTómhais.

Alternately, the MacThomas surname may also be spelled Thomason, Thompson, Thomasson, and Tomson. The MacThomas name may also be expressed as Thomas, Thommason, Thompsen, or Thomseth. It may also be found in various international forms, such as Thomazin, Thomassin, Tomasin, Tomaszak, and Tomazin.

Factoring in all possible spellings and variant spellings, many variants of the MacThomas surname exist. The most common variant spellings are MacThomson, MacThomason, MacTavish, MacTavishson, Thomason, Thompson, Thomasson, Tomson, Thomas, Thommason, Thompsen, Thomseth, and Tomazin.

Famous people with the name MacThomas

• Sir James MacThomas, 9th Baronet, of Ardelve: A Scottish peer who inherited the Clan MacThomas Baronetcy in 2014.
• Sir William MacThomas, 8th Baronet, of Ardelve: The late Baronet of Ardelve who held the title of Clan MacThomas Baronetcy from 1994 until his death in 2014.
• James MacThomas, Chief: The current Chief of Clan MacThomas.
• Joe MacThomas: A former college basketball player who played for the University of South Carolina Upstate.
• Jody MacThomas: An American model, actress, and music video director.
• Donal MacThomas: An Irish politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway West constituency from 1965 to 1969.
• Flo MacThomas: A notable Scottish Gaelic poet and writer who was born in the late 1920s.
• Sharon MacThomas: A retired Australian radio presenter who presented for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
• Paul MacThomas: An Australian television presenter and music personality who is best known for his work on ABC television programs.
• Lance MacThomas: An Australian photographer and director who is best known for his contributions to the Australian music industry.
• Greg MacThomas: An American film and television actor best known for his roles in the films Detention and Lucas.
• Toni MacThomas: An American sculptor and performance artist who is best known for her installations and public sculptures.
• MacThomas Makau: A Kenyan politician who has served in numerous positions from 2004 to present, including Member of the National Assembly, Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
• Graham MacThomas: A British man who served as a Captain in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

Other surnames

MacThomMacThomaidhMacThomais