Surname Thomforde - Meaning and Origin

Thomforde: What does the surname Thomforde mean?

The surname Thomforde is primarily of German origin, and it is derived from the given name Thomas. It is comprised of two elements – ‘thom’ derived from Thomas, and ‘forde’ derived from the Old High German word ‘Furt’ which translates as ford or passage. This surname therefore can be interpreted to imply that the original bearer lived by either a ford or passageway.

Thomforde could also be an altered form of the word ‘thombrecht’ or ‘tombrecht’, also German, meaningSecond Son, which was used to distinguish the second son in a family with the same name.

The Thomforde surname is no longer commonly used in German-speaking countries. Instead, it is found mostly in regions outside of Europe. However, it is still quite rare overall, with fewer than 250 people in the United States listed with the surname, and according to the United Kingdom Census of 2011, only 35 people in the entire country had the last name Thomforde.

At one time, Thomforde may have been more prevalent, though how frequent it was is difficult to say. Records as far back as the 18th century show the Thomforde surname in England and in parts of the United States, while records in Germany are scarce and largely limited to the 19th century.

The Thomforde surname is an interesting one, and it is certainly a rarity to find in modern times. Yet its origin can help to shed some light on the original bearer of the name and their travels to a different land.

Thomforde: Where does the name Thomforde come from?

The surname Thomforde is very uncommon today, but it appears to originate from Germany. It is believed to have first appeared around the 15th century in the German-speaking area, though no exact location has been identified as yet.

In the United States, the Thomforde surname has been found primarily in the state of Illinois, in the Chicago, Naperville, and Joliet areas.

In other parts of the world, variants or similar surnames like 'Thomfohrdt', with a 'h' instead of the 'f' also appear. It can also be found in large cities in Canada, such as Toronto, and in other countries such as Australia, Japan, and South Africa.

In addition, it has been seen that some Thomforde family members have adopted other last names or hyphenated the Thomforde name. Doing this helps them to still keep a connection to their family heritage but also allows for a wide variety of options when searching for their ancestors.

Thomforde is a relatively old-style surname and today it is relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, the Thomforde name has been able to withstand the test of time and remain in the memories of some families.

Variations of the surname Thomforde

The surname Thomforde is a spelling variant of several surnames of the same origin. The variants spellings include: Tomforde, Thumforde, and Thompforde. These surnames are all derived from the German root surname of Thurmfart, which means “dweller at the fortress” or “near the fortress”, and is likely a reference to an ancient fortified area or stronghold.

Variant surnames of Thomforde include Tomforde, otherwise spelled Tomford or Tomfarte, from the Middle English"Tom," as a nickname for Thomas, and "Forde," for a crossing or ford. Another variant surname is Thumforde, the Middle English form of the old German name Thurmfart. The spelling Thompforde appears to derive from the old Norman French surname de Thomborde, which is of unknown origin.

In some cases, Thomforde may be a variant spelling of the surname Anfortas, which is an archaic German surname derived from the words han for hand and furht for protection. It is argued that this surname is similar to Thomforde in that both appear to have originated as nicknames for people who were known for living near or protecting some kind of fortress or stronghold.

Finally, those of the Thomforde lineage may also bear the surnames of Thumbor, Tomberor, Tombode, Thompsor, Thumper, Thumpe, Thumpling, Tompkinson, Thumpmore, and Thrumble. Each of these variants carries a slightly different meaning, though all are rooted in the same ancient Germanic name "Thurmfart." Therefore, those bearing the Thomforde surname should be aware of the many ways in which their ancestral name is spelled and pronounced in different parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Thomforde

• Matthew Thomforde: Matthew Thomforde is an American drummer who has performed and recorded with various rock and jazz musicians, including jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.
• Steven R. Thomforde: Steven R. Thomforde is an American Lutheran church musician and scholar.
• Ian Thomforde: Ian Thomforde is a Canadian filmmaker and director who has had many international awards for his films.
• William C. Thomforde: William C. Thomforde was an American pioneer, explorer and critic.
• Susan Thomforde: Susan Thomforde is an American actress best known for her role as Violet in the live-action movie, ‘The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.’
• Clark Thomforde: Clark Thomforde is an American musician, songwriter, and producer who co-wrote the hit single “It’s Gonna Be Me” by the pop group N Sync.
• David Thomforde: David Thomforde was an American composer and professor of music at the University of Arizona.
• Ronald L. Thomforde: Ronald L. Thomforde is an American chemist and professor at the University of Arizona.
• Robert H. Thomforde: Robert H. Thomforde was an American lawyer and judge who served on the Supreme Court of South Dakota from 1960 to 1971.
• October Mattson Thomforde: October Mattson Thomforde was an American suffragette and social activist who worked to gain women the right to vote in the United States.

Other surnames

Thomford