Surname Tomkin - Meaning and Origin
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Tomkin: What does the surname Tomkin mean?
The last name Tomkin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a pet form of the personal name 'Thomas.' The suffix 'kin,' which is of Dutch influence, denotes 'little' or 'son of,' hence Tomkin literally means 'little Thomas' or 'son of Thomas.' It is primarily used in England and has variations such as Tompkins, Tompkyn, Tomkins, and Tomkiss. This surname was first found in the county of Gloucestershire, England, but later many of the name bearers moved to Ireland during the 17th century. Like many surnames, it isn't necessarily associated with a unified family line, but was likely adopted independently by several different families, throughout several different regions. Today, individuals with the last name Tomkin can be found in numerous countries around the world following the wave of migration from Europe over the last few hundred years.
Order DNA origin analysisTomkin: Where does the name Tomkin come from?
The last name Tomkin is past down from the English name Tomkinson. It is generally believed to be derived from a location; Tomkin's Hill located in Cheshire, England. In England today, Tomkin is not a very common name, but it can be found in some locations. For example, people with the surname Tomkin are known to come from areas around Durham, Cumbria, and Lancashire. There are also some Tomkins who live in London, but they are much rarer.
In the United States, the last name Tomkin is considerably more common. This is due to the large number of immigrants who have come over from England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In fact, the US has the highest concentration of people with the last name Tomkin of any country in the world. According to the 2010 US census, the most common states for people with the last name Tomkin were New York, Florida, California, and Virginia.
Overall, Tomkin is not a very common name and it’s relatively rare to come across someone who had it. Despite that, it is clear that the name still carries a large presence in the United States largely due to the number of settlers from England who made the journey over hundreds of years ago.
Variations of the surname Tomkin
The Tomkin surname is of English origin. It is derived from the personal name Tomkin, which was derived from the Middle English given name Tom, which itself was derived from Thomas. There are many variants of the Tomkin surname, including Tompkins, Tomkins, Tombkin, Tompkyns, Tomkyns, Timkins, and Dimkins. Variations in spelling can occur due to dialects, mistakes due to poor handwriting, or when governments began to standardise spelling.
Tompkins and Tomkins are the most common spellings of the surname, while the others such as Tombkin, Tompkyns, Tomkyns, Timkins, and Dimkins are relatively rare. Despite this, the surnames are all used to refer to people of the same English origin.
As with many surnames, the Tomkin surname has become varied through migrations and other influences. Some variants of the Tomkin surname, such as Timkins, can be found in the United States and other English-speaking countries. There are also some variants of the surname which are found more commonly outside of England, such as the French Tompquin, the Swedish Tomkins and the German Tomkinus.
The Tomkin surname is widespread, and variants of it can be found throughout the world in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Regardless of the spelling, people of this surname share a common English origin.
Famous people with the name Tomkin
- Bill Tomkins: famed basketball player, fourth overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft and All-American from the University of New Mexico.
- Neal Tomkins: American philanthropist and recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kiwanis Club International.
- Turner Tomkins: broadcaster, actor, and filmmaker. He is the host of "Heritage Works," a popular podcast series exploring issues pertaining to African-American culture and art.
- Mark Tomkins: award-winning composer and conductor known for his compositions from the Classical, Jazz, and Pop genres.
- Paul Tomkins: journalist and author best known for his books on the Liverpool Football Club.
- Joe Tomkins: NFL linebacker playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Harry Tomkins: British footballer who played for Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City.
- Jessica Tomkins: Broadway star credited with originating lead roles in productions such as "Wicked" and "Carousel."
- Charlie Tomkins: British actor starring in television series such as "All Creatures Great and Small" and "Him & Her."
- Robert Tomkins: British artist known for his work in abstract expressionism.