NameCensus.

UK surname

Thomsen

A patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Thomas."

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Thomsen surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Wakefield and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thomsen is 279 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 627.8%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

2010

279 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thomsen had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Thomsen surname distribution map

The map shows where the Thomsen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Thomsen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thomsen over time

The 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 46 #29,047
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 230 #16,644
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 253 #15,677
2003 modern 248 #15,695
2004 modern 260 #15,309
2005 modern 240 #16,092
2006 modern 245 #15,956
2007 modern 257 #15,606
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 270 #16,020
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Thomsens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Wakefield, Lewes and South Cambridgeshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 014 North East Lincolnshire
2 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
3 Lewes 003 Lewes
4 North East Lincolnshire 015 North East Lincolnshire
5 South Cambridgeshire 002 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thomsen

These lists show first names that appear often with the Thomsen surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thomsen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Thomsen, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Thomsen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Thomsen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Thomsen is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thomsen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thomsen falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Thomsen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Thomsen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Thomsen

The surname Thomsen originates from Denmark, where it first appeared in the late 15th century. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name Thomas, which itself comes from the Aramaic word for "twin." The suffix "-sen" was commonly added to denote "son of" in Scandinavian naming traditions.

Thomsen is believed to have roots in the Danish town of Tommerup, located on the island of Funen. Early records show variations like Thomissen and Tommesen, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest known bearers was Jens Thomsen, a farmer mentioned in a 1487 land registry from Odense.

During the medieval period, the name Thomsen appeared sporadically in various Danish chronicles and church records. Notably, a Niels Thomsen was listed as a resident of Roskilde in the 1538 census ordered by King Christian III. In the 17th century, the variant Thomasen gained popularity among Danish nobility.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname Thomsen are Hans Thomsen (1576-1643), a Danish astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary motions. Another prominent bearer was Vilhelm Thomsen (1842-1927), a linguist and pioneer in the field of Turkic studies.

In the 19th century, the name Thomsen gained wider recognition with individuals like Hans Peter Jørgen Julius Thomsen (1826-1909), a renowned Danish chemist who formulated the Thomsen-Berthelot principle in thermochemistry. Carl August Thomsen (1836-1890) was a Danish architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Copenhagen, including the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum.

The Thomsen name also crossed borders, with notable bearers like Christian Jürgensen Thomsen (1788-1865), a Danish archaeologist and the founder of modern scientific archaeology. His work on the Three-Age System laid the foundation for understanding prehistoric cultures based on their technological advancements.

While the Thomsen surname originated in Denmark, it has since spread to other parts of Scandinavia and beyond, carried by Danish emigrants and their descendants. The name continues to hold a strong presence in its homeland and serves as a reminder of Denmark's rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thomsen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thomsen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 13 Thomsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.70x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 3.70x
Lanarkshire 11 9.69x
Fife 3 14.43x
Surrey 3 1.75x
Devon 2 2.74x
Aberdeenshire 1 3.08x
Cornwall 1 2.52x
Lancashire 1 0.24x
Suffolk 1 2.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Thomsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.71x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 7 34.71x
Islington London 7 20.56x
Barony 4 13.92x
Camberwell 3 13.37x
Dunfermline 3 93.75x
St Marylebone London 3 16.00x
St George In East 2 83.68x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 333.33x
Falmouth 1 70.92x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 83.33x
Norwood 1 125.00x
Peterhead 1 58.14x
Toxteth Park 1 7.09x
West Teignmouth 1 178.57x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Thomsen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
(Mrs) 1
Alice 1
Elise 1
Lena 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margarette 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Nora 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Thomsen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Thomas 3
Claus 1
George 1
H.P. 1
Henry 1
Hermann 1
Niels 1
Otto 1
Peter 1

Top occupations

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 Thomsen households.

FAQ

Thomsen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thomsen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Thomsen surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thomsen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Thomsen a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Thomsen surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Thomas."

What does the Thomsen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Thomsen bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.