History: The surname Thompson is of English, Irish, and Scottish origin, derived from the personal name Thomas, meaning “twin” in Aramaic. The addition of the suffix “-son” indicates “son of Thomas.” The name has variants such as Thomson and MacTavish, the latter being the Anglicized version of the Gaelic name MacTamhais. The Thompson surname is prevalent in English-speaking countries, including the United States, where it was the 23rd most frequently reported surname as of the 2010 Census. Notable individuals with this surname include:

  • Thompson Twins: British pop band active in the 1980s.
  • Thompson Rivers University: Public university in British Columbia, Canada.