Surname Tamms - Meaning and Origin
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Tamms: What does the surname Tamms mean?
The last name Tamms is of German and Dutch origin, and is believed to date back to the Middle Ages. The name is thought to be derived from the Germanic word 'tamme', which means 'late-ripening grain'. This could indicate that the original bearers of the surname Tamms were agricultural settlers who lived in areas with a longer growing season.
The earliest known recorded ancestor bearing the last name Tamms was Arndt Tamme, who was a German landlord in the late 15th century. Since then, the Tamms family has dispersed across various regions in Europe and beyond. It is now most commonly found in the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, and is also quite widespread in certain parts of the United States of America.
The Tamms name is believed to be shared by other families around the world, such as the German Thoms family. This has led some to suggest that the two surnames could be related. It is also possible that they both derive from the same medieval roots, however no concrete evidence has been found to make this connection.
Overall, the last name Tamms has a long and varied history. Although its exact origin remains uncertain, it is clear that the name is associated with rural areas and Germanic agricultural settlers.
Order DNA origin analysisTamms: Where does the name Tamms come from?
The last name Tamms is most commonly found in the Baltic region of Europe, particularly in Estonia and Finland. It is thought to have originated in Germany or the Netherlands and was brought to the Baltic region by Dutch traders and migrant workers in the 1700s.
Despite its dubious origins, the Tamms name has become very common in modern-day Estonia. According to Estonian government statistics, there are more than 3,100 people with the last name Tamms living in Estonia today. That puts the name among the top 200 most common last names in the country.
In Finland, the last name Tamms is also fairly common. There are more than 1,100 people with the last name Tamms who currently live in Finland – that's enough to make it one of the country's top 500 last names. The Tamms name is most commonly found in the Southern regions of Finland, particularly in the cities and towns along the shores of the Gulf of Finland.
Outside of the Baltic region, the last name Tamms is much less common. In the US, the number of people with the last name Tamms is around 800 and it is not in the top 1,000 most common last names in the country. In Europe as a whole, there are an estimated 5,000 people with the last name Tamms, and around 9,000 people worldwide.
Variations of the surname Tamms
The surname Tamms has a few different spellings and variants, which can make it a bit confusing.
One variant of the surname is Tamms. This spelling is most commonly seen in the United States and Canada. It could also be spelled as Tammas or Tammasse.
The Tamms surname could also be seen as Tammes or Tammese. This spelling is usually seen in English-speaking regions.
Another variant of the surname is Tams. This is seen mostly in Australia and New Zealand. It could also be spelled as Tam, Tamme, Tamm or Tomms.
Other variants of the surname Tamms include Tammy, Tammer, Tommens, Tomins, Tummines and Turnmes.
The surname Tamms also has a few surnames of the same origin. These include Tam, Tamers, Tamar, Tamburly and the Dutch variants van der Tams, van damme and van de Tamme.
In conclusion, the surname Tamms is not too difficult to trace through its various spellings and variants. With a few simple searches one can find different sources of the surname and its various forms.
Famous people with the name Tamms
- Julius Tamms: German gliding pilot and member of the pilots association INAT in Thuringia, Germany
- Val Tamms: Estonian footballer
- Jez Tamms: rugby player for the English national team
- Mary Ann Tamms: an Australian midwife
- Andre Tamms: Brazilian soccer player
- Aare Tammsaare: Estonian writer
- Oskar Tammsaare: Estonian judge
- Johanna Tamms: former president of the Estonian Athletic Club
- Tom Tamms: Finnish hockey player
- Christian Tamms: German footballer