Surname Toms - Meaning and Origin

Toms: What does the surname Toms mean?

The last name Toms is of English origin and is derived from the personal name Thomas. Thomas is of biblical origin, stemming from the Aramaic personal name T'oma, meaning "twin". The surname Toms therefore means "son of Thomas" or "descendant of Thomas". The usage of "s" at the end indicates the patronymic form. It is widespread in the English-speaking world, particularly in the UK and America. Over time, various spellings such as Tom, Tomm, Thom, and Thoms have emerged. Despite the different spellings, they all essentially carry the same meaning. Given its origin, it is likely that individuals bearing the Toms surname have some ancestral connections to a person named Thomas.

Toms: Where does the name Toms come from?

The last name Toms is most common today in Southern England, particularly in the counties of Devon and Cornwall. In 2018, the Office for National Statistics reported that it was the 327th most common surname in England and Wales, and the names Tompson and Tomson rank even higher.

The same source found that Toms was also the 263rd most popular name in Scotland in 2018, with Tomson ranking 29th and Tompson 653rd. Northern Ireland does not collect surnames statistics, but anecdotally, it appears that the surname is relatively uncommon there.

In the United States, Toms is a somewhat rare surname, ranking well outside the top 1000 in 2019. Despite this, the family name can be found in several major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston. It is particularly common along the Gulf Coast of the southern United States, especially in the state of Mississippi.

The etymology of Toms is something of a mystery. It could be derived from a patronymic form of Thomas or even the word "tome," meaning a written record. Alternatively, it could be derived from Old English elements meaning "dove," "pond," or even "swift-footed." Whatever its origins, the surname Toms remains relatively common today both in the United Kingdom and in parts of the United States.

Variations of the surname Toms

The surname Toms is an English patronymic surname, typically derived from a given name such as Thomas or Tomas. It is found throughout England and Wales, and also in many other parts of the world.

Variants of the surname Toms include Tom, Tomson, Tompsen, Tomkin, Thomson, Thompsen, Thomason, Thomkins, and Tompsom.

In some countries, the surname Toms is spelled slightly differently, such as Tombe in Germany, Tomme in Netherlands, and Tomso in Italy.

The most common spelling of the surname Toms is Tom, which is also often used as a shortened version of the given name Tomas.

Alternate spellings of the surname Toms are Taum, Toam, and Toomey, as well as Tomasko.

Surnames of the same origin as Toms, include Tomlinson, Tompkins, Tompkinson, Toombs, and Tomasson.

The surname Toms could also be spelled without the 'S' in cases where it is derived from the female name Thomazine.

The surname Toms has a number of variants and alternate spellings throughout the world, but all of them are typically derived from either the given name Thomas or Tomas.

Famous people with the name Toms

• Jeff Toms: former American professional hockey player who spent five seasons in the NHL from 1996-2001.
• Al Toms: former American professional football player who was selected as the 67th pick in the 1966 NFL Draft.
• William Toms: American singer/songwriter who formed part of the musical duo Toms & Jerry with Jerry Leiber.
• Steve Toms: former English cricketer who played four first-class matches and is now a professional cricket coach.
• Bobby Toms: former American professional golfer who competed on the Canadian tour in the late 1990s.
• Kostas Toms: former Greek professional basketball player who was a part of the EuroBasket-winning Greek side in 1987.
• Wayne Toms: former Australian professional swimmer who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Joseph Toms: American artist and lecturer based in Brooklyn, New York whose work explores urban landscapes.
• Ken Toms: British television presenter, actor, and radio presenter best known for presenting The Short Circuit and Camera One.
• Penelope Toms: British actress, writer and director who has appeared in feature films, episodic television and theatre.

Other surnames

tom FeldeTomaidesTomainskiTomalaTomaleTomallaTomanTomandelTomandlTomanecTomaneckTomanekTomanetzTomanikTomannTomanskiTomanskyTomasTomaschTomaschäfskyTomascheckTomaschefskiTomaschefskyTomascheitTomaschekTomaschewskiTomaschewskyTomaschowskiTomasek