UK surname
A patronymic surname derived from Thorn, a Middle English form of Thomas.
In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Thomphson surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,288 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Stapenhill and Cardington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thomphson is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
4
Ranked #33,288
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Thomphson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Thomphson surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 15 | #30,614 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 4 | #33,288 |
| 1891 | historical | 18 | #32,706 |
| 1901 | historical | 2 | #34,263 |
| 1911 | historical | 11 | #32,463 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Stapenhill, Cardington, Newton Regis, No Man's Heath and Ruislip. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winwick | Lancashire |
| 2 | Stapenhill | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Cardington | Bedfordshire |
| 4 | Newton Regis, No Man's Heath | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Ruislip | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Thomphson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Thomphson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Thomphson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Thomphson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Thomphson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Thomphson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Thomphson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Thomphson has its origins in England, derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning a town or settlement, and "hus" meaning a house. It originated as a locational surname, given to individuals who lived near or worked at a prominent house or homestead in a particular town or village. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was as "Thomasson" in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1273.
In medieval times, surnames were often derived from occupations, nicknames, or geographical locations. The Thomphson name likely referred to someone who lived in or was associated with a specific town or homestead. The name's spelling evolved over time, with variations like "Thompsonn," "Thomsonne," and "Thompsoun" appearing in various historical records.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Thomphson name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a William Thompsone was listed. Another early reference is in the Register of the Freemen of Leicester in 1399, which mentions a John Thompeson.
The Thomphson surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Thompson (1520-1580), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1566. Another prominent figure was Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814), an American-born British physicist and inventor, also known as Count Rumford, who made significant contributions to the study of heat and thermodynamics.
Other notable Thomphsons include the English poet and playwright Francis Thompson (1859-1907), best known for his work "The Hound of Heaven," and the American author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005), famous for his pioneering gonzo journalism style.
In terms of place names, the Thomphson surname has been associated with locations like Thompson's Green in Hertfordshire, England, and Thompson's Hill in County Durham, England. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Thomphson surname who lived or owned land in those areas.
While the Thomphson name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and colonization. Today, the surname can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thomphson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Worcestershire leads with 3 Thomphsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.17x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire | 3 | 59.17x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 81.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cakemore in Worcestershire leads with 3 Thomphsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thomphson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Thomphson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Thomphson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Nail Maker | 2 |
| Brick Maker | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Thomphson surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Thomphson a modern rank of #39,061.
A patronymic surname derived from Thorn, a Middle English form of Thomas.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thomphson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.