Surname: Thomson
Jason Nitz
Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan, and I
believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
Can anyone help?
Joe Makowiec
>
> Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
> Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
> sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
> explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
The 'correct' clan depends on what clan one is descended from... The
only real way to tell is to research your family history.
If you're serious about researching your family history, start with what
you know (your dates of birth, parents, etc) and start working
backward. For English, Welsh, Scots, Irish, a good place for
information is
(GENealogy in the United Kingdom and Ireland); for general genealogy
information, try Cyndi's List and Rootsweb:
http://www.cyndislist.com/
http://www.rootsweb.com/
If you're still dealing with this century, the LDS Familysearch site
won't be of too much use, although you can try it:
There are several newsgroups specific to the area you're interested in:
news:soc.genealogy.britain
news:soc.genealogy.surnames.britain <-- can also read
soc.genealogy.surnames.global
news:alt.genealogy <-- covers all of genealogy, sort of...
Note that there are not a whole lot of primary records online yet (ie
you won't find birth certificates), but you will find a great deal of
information on _how_ to find them. This is certainly not exhaustive,
but it's a place to start; watch out, it's addictive...
> It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
> about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan, and I
> believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
Certainly if you descend from a Thom(p)son, you qualify for membership
in the Clan MacTavish/Thompson clan society. (Note, however, the
distinction between 'clan' and 'clan society'.) I'm not sure about the
tartan myself, although it wasn't the current chief, it was a rather
well-to-do Thompson who wanted his own tartan.
MacTavish/Thompson websites:
http://home.iSTAR.ca/~dunardry/
http://www.mactavish.org/
--------------------
Sorry for the jammed e-mail address.
Joe Makowiec can be reached at:
makowiec(at)nycap.rr.com
SilntThnkr
>Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
>Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
>sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
>explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
>
>about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan, and I
>believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
>
Well, just to make it a little MORE confusing the name Thomson is also a sept
of Clan Gunn. : ) Joe had it right. If you it is really important to you to
find out which Clan your particualr family was associated with in the old days
in the old country, you have to research YOUR family starting with Parents and
Grandparents and working backwards. If you are just interested in a connection
on a more abstract level, pick one of the Clans that your family name is
connected with and just adopt it. I promise, nobody will get mad if you show
up at a Clan Gunn Gathering and enjoy yourself. : ) Just remember, that since
today we are not fighting Clan Wars and the only real reason to get involved is
your desire to learn and appreciate the positive aspects of that time/place
have fun with what you are doing and learn as you go. Welcome
-David of the Clan Gunn
Mhic-Ghille-Mhuire
In article <37cc...@news.gil.com.au>, "Jason wrote:
>
>Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
>Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also
>a
>sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
>explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
>
>It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
>about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan,
>and I
>believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
>
>Can anyone help?
>
>
My mother was a Thompson, and when I tried to find the origin of the name, this
is what I've been able to formulate in my mind:
The names MacTavish, MacT(h)omas, T(h)om(p)son, etc, all mean "son of T(h)om.
The name has many independent origins such as many of the trade names(Smith,
Archer, etc) w/ origins incuding England, Scotland, Ireland, & even Germany.
I've been told by one source, the name has origins as far away as Russia!
(notice I didn't say reliable source, so TIFWIW). So first, you must determine
if your name origin is even Scotish! BTW, I still don't know for our family,
just know it was the British Isles.
As far as the MacTavish/Campbell, my understanding is the Clan
MacTavish/Thompson clan is the same as what the Campbells claim as a sept.
This branch did come from the same area (Argyll). IIRC, no relation to the
MacTomas (Perthshire?)
Doesn't that make you wish your ancestors had a more unique name, such as
Dinwiddie (Hi Tess:)?
Regards,
Dillard Gilmore (Mhic-Ghille-Mhuire)
Glenmaple
>From: "Jason Nitz" <jen...@gil.com.au>
>Subject: Surname: Thomson
>Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 18:55:59 +1000
>Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
>Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
>sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
>explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
>It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
>about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan, and I
>believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
>Can anyone help?
The official Clan Thomson tartan was commisioned by Lord Thomson of Fleet 30
or more years ago.
You will notice that it has the same weave as the MacTavish tartan but is blue
and white as opposed to blue and red.
I don't know the full story myself but look at a clan map some time and you
will find that the Campbells, and MacTavishes came from the same general area
in Scotland.
Don Thompson
Charter member of Clan MacTavish - Thom(p)son
Jason Nitz
this has given us no more of a clue as to which Clan we may have belonged
around that time. Our Family originated in Speyside as far back as the late
1600's, however we have yet to find documented evidence to prove this. As I
have said, so far it is only documented to early 1800's. At what period in
time do you look at and say "We belonged to Clan......"? If you took
different periods say 1600, 1700 1800 the answer may be different for all
time periods? Which period do you call the standard?
Thanks all to those who have so far replied.
>Well, just to make it a little MORE confusing the name Thomson is also a
sept
Ed & Joyce Thomas
> >
> >Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
> >Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
> >sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
> >explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
> >
> >It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
> >about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan, and I
> >believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
> >
> >Can anyone help?
>
> Well, just to make it a little MORE confusing the name Thomson is also a sept
> of Clan Gunn. : ) Joe had it right. If you it is really important to you to
> find out which Clan your particualr family was associated with in the old days
> in the old country, you have to research YOUR family starting with Parents and
> Grandparents and working backwards. If you are just interested in a connection
> on a more abstract level, pick one of the Clans that your family name is
> connected with and just adopt it. I promise, nobody will get mad if you show
> up at a Clan Gunn Gathering and enjoy yourself. : ) Just remember, that since
> today we are not fighting Clan Wars and the only real reason to get involved is
> your desire to learn and appreciate the positive aspects of that time/place
> have fun with what you are doing and learn as you go. Welcome
>
> -David of the Clan Gunn
David, is there a name that Clan Gunn doesn't claim? GBG
Tiss
SilntThnkr
LOL Tiss, we are a very open Clan. After all as war like as we were, we need
the new blood as often as we can get it. : )
Tarlander
unravel the knots of family history. While I knew my roots were in Scottish
soil, I didn't know the exact origins. Still don't for sure. As I did know
my mother's maiden name was Fisher and oral history was of three brothers
coming over from Scotland, I was pretty confident of the Scottish
connection. Fisher is a sept of Clan Campbell and I joined the Clan Campbell
Society. Now I'm a North Carolina Commissioner for Clan Campbell Society. As
things will sometimes go awry, they did. Now I have a cousin who has
researched us back into Scotland and lo and behold.........we were with Clan
MacGregor. Who would of known? Anyway, with all respect to Clan MacGregor,
I'll stay with Clan Campbell. The gist of all of this is.....find one you're
happy with and go with them. Whichever it is , they will be the richer.
Tarlander
Joe Makowiec
> things will sometimes go awry, they did. Now I have a cousin who has
> researched us back into Scotland and lo and behold.........we were with Clan
> MacGregor. Who would of known? Anyway, with all respect to Clan MacGregor,
> I'll stay with Clan Campbell. The gist of all of this is.....find one you're
> happy with and go with them. Whichever it is , they will be the richer.
That whirring sound? It's yer ancestors spinning in their graves...
<grin>
Jolin8930
>
>David, is there a name that Clan Gunn doesn't claim? GBG
>
>Tiss
selective in who we associate with. You for example are a Pixie, one of the
wee people, and therefore always welcome...
Iain...
Ed & Joyce Thomas
I thank you, kind sir. giggle
Tiss
Lesley Robertson
SilntThnkr <silnt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990901113233...@ng-fk1.aol.com...
> >
> >Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
> >Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
> >sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
> >explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
> >
> >It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
> >about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan,
and I
> >believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
> >
> >Can anyone help?
>
> Well, just to make it a little MORE confusing the name Thomson is also a
sept
> of Clan Gunn. : )
As long as it isn't english or welsh..... It's not an exclusively scottish
name.
Lesley Robertson
John Netley-Thomson
Lesley Robertson <l.a.ro...@stm.tudelft.nl> wrote in message
news:7r3648$b46$1...@news.tudelft.nl...
Lesley Robertson
John Netley-Thomson <jo...@netleythomson.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7rjpkt$ent$1...@neptunium.btinternet.com...
> Thomson is a sept of the Clan Chattan, well we are any way.
>
You have presumably established that you're descended from the scots of that
name - but where others are concerned, it doesn't invalidate what I said -
FIRST establish that the family in question isn't from the english or welsh
lines, then worry about the clan.
Incidentally, there's a sigh to the Clan mcThomas gathering place on the
road north to Glen Shee.
Lesley Robertson
anne.burgess
"THOMS (sic) means 'son of Thomas'. It is also an anglicising of MacThomas.
Adam M'Intosh, son of William, the seventh chief of the Clan M'Intosh, was
the founder of that branch of the clan which afterwards came to be known by
the surname of M'Thomas, which in time became corrupted to M'Thomie,
M'Homie, M'Omie, M'Comie and latterly M'Combie and Thoms."
"THOMSON means 'son of Thom'. A fairly numerous surname in Scotland. ...
many individuals of this name in Perthshire and Argyllshire are really
Mactavishes. The surname in these districts is an Anglicised form of Gaelic
Mac Thomais, 'son of Thomas', or MacThomaidh, 'son of Thom'."
"THOMPSON 'son of Thom', with intrusive 'p'. This spelling is more commonly
found in England."
"THOM" a diminutive of 'Thomas'.
"THOMAS, a common Anglo-Norman personal name. It is from the Syriac via
Hebrew meaning 'twin'.
There is a Clan MacThomais stone in Glenshee, signposted from the A93. I
haven't been to look at it.
Note of caution: Thomas was a common enough name in other parts of the
world. There must be millions of Thomsons, Thompsons, Thoms and so on who
have no ancestral link with any Scottish clan, so please don't assume that
because your name is associated with a particular clan, you must therefore
be descended from that clan.
HTH
Anne
John Netley-Thomson
time! Aided by the fact that for many generations the never left a small
village in the north east of Scotland called Portessie. Indeed I have many
relations there still.
He has attended clan gatherings etc, but as I now work in London it is a bit
far to travel. Though I do still regard Scotland, where I grew up and was
educated, as my home.
When the occasion requires it we both sport the Thomson dress tartan.
On your other point I agree with you entirely and did not intend to seem to
contradict you.
John.
Lesley Robertson wrote in message <7rl1s2$e41$1...@news.tudelft.nl>...
Narda
status, and I have actually met the chief several times. Thompson, and the
variations of, are the Anglicized spelling of MacTavish. Get thee to highland
games, and support your clan! Also, check out The Gathering site.
John Olin
James Thomson wrote:
> Well as a Thomson whose family come from Cupar in Fife - I've spent
> my 39 years pretty much in the family heartland (East coast Edinburgh
> to Dundee is pretty thick Thomson territory)
>
> I don't beleive Thomson is a Clan at all. Just a lowland "Family" like
> Bruce. Certainly there has never been a chief. As for this Gunn or
> Campbell affiliation it's pure commercial bunkum with the Campbells
> just trying to absorb as much as they can. The Thomson's are quite
> populous enough to not have to look up to some west coast rabble !!
>
> James Thomosn
James,
You make a good point. Thomson, or son of Thomas is common. I think it has
been said many times that to being Scottish is not exclusive to the Highland
Clans. That is not to say, that there are not some with that name connected with
Clans.
We from clan Gunn only report that there are connections to Clan Gunn. The
affiliations are your choice. I for one tease Tiss to because I like too. In my
reading, I discovered that there were Murray's associated with Clan Gunn. That
don't make the Murray name a sept of Clan Gunn, but it does make some with the
name Murray descendants of those that were. If you have studied your family
history, and discover that you were connected to a clan than we would gladly
welcome you.
Commercial or not, the choice of affiliation is still yours. A few clans do
have strict rules about proving you lineage first. We at one time thought about
it, and there was even talk of only allowing those with one of the Surnames being
allowed in. Ours is an ancient clan. We have been separated over many years, it
is doubtful that we will ever be able to trace our ancestry. What we do expect
however is honesty. If a person claims affiliation, there must be some basis for
it. Much of the Scottish family history is that which was passed from generation
to generation by word of mouth.
If your family has the legend that you are a descendant of Clan Gunn, than we
would accept your word for it. If you do not, than we might muse over the name.
Try to help you find a connection if you are interested, or just provide some
information and discussion. But to say that the connection is purely commercial,
is missing the point. What would the Clans have to gain by claiming people not
associated with it. We are not for profit, and associate because of common
interests and connections.
Iain... of Clan Gunn...
James Thomson
Lesley Robertson wrote:
>
> SilntThnkr <silnt...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:19990901113233...@ng-fk1.aol.com...
> > >
> > >Does anyone know the correct Family Clan for person with the surname
> > >Thomson. I have been told it is a sept of Clan Campbell of Argyll, also a
> > >sept of Clan MacThomas, and also a family of Clan MacTavish (it was
> > >explained to me the Thomson is the Anglicised form of MacTavish)
> > >
> > >It is extremely hard to find a correct family Clan with so much debate
> > >about. I do realise that there is now an official Clan Thomson tartan,
> and I
> > >believe that it was designed by the current Clan Chief of Clan MacTavish
> > >
> > >Can anyone help?
> >
> > Well, just to make it a little MORE confusing the name Thomson is also a
> sept
> > of Clan Gunn. : )
>
> As long as it isn't english or welsh..... It's not an exclusively scottish
> name.
>
> Lesley Robertson
Well as a Thomson whose family come from Cupar in Fife - I've spent
SilntThnkr
>> Well as a Thomson whose family come from Cupar in Fife - I've spent
>> my 39 years pretty much in the family heartland (East coast Edinburgh
>> to Dundee is pretty thick Thomson territory)
>>
>> I don't beleive Thomson is a Clan at all. Just a lowland "Family" like
>> Bruce. Certainly there has never been a chief. As for this Gunn or
>> Campbell affiliation it's pure commercial bunkum with the Campbells
>> just trying to absorb as much as they can. The Thomson's are quite
>> populous enough to not have to look up to some west coast rabble !!
>>
>> James Thomosn
>
Excellent point Iain. James The Clan Gunn has a claim on A Thomson family,
not ALL Thomson names. It is through Thomas, one of the sons of George Gunn
the Crowner, who was not killed in the ambush by the Keiths. Now as Iain has
pointed out since Thomson means only SON-OF-THOM it is of course a very common
name. And just to keep Tiss happy I will reprint here all the recognized Septs
of Clan Gunn. Now remember everybody, just becuse there si a name here that
you have, it is VERY possible that you did not come from the particulare family
which is represented here. Now some of these are direct Septs (Davidson,
Williamson, Thomson were all sons of George the Crowner) and some are of course
through marriage. After all, with as much as us Gunns liked to fight, we have
to make lots of friends too. : )
Allisterson, Anderson, Croner, Crownar, Crowner, Cruiner, Cruner, Eanrig,
Enrick, Galdie, Gallie, Gailey, Ganson, Gauldie, Gaunson, George, Georgeson,
Henderson, Inrig, Jameson, Jamieson, Jamison, Johnson, Kean, Keene,
MacAllister, MacChruner, MacComas, MacCorkill, MacCorkle, MacCullie, MacDade,
MacDhaidh, MacEnrick, MacGeorge, MacHamish, MacIan,
Mackames, Mackeamis, Mackeamish, Mackean, Mackendrick, MacMains, MacManus,
MacNeil, MacOmish, MacRob, MacRory, MacSheoras, MacWilliam, Magnus, Magnusson,
Main, Mains, Mann, Manson, Maness, Manus, More, Neilson, Nelson, Robinson,
Robeson, Robison, Robson, Rorieson, Sandison, Swan, Swann, Swanney, Swanson,
Thomson, Tomson, Will, Williamson, Wills, Wilson, Wylie, Wyllie
Ed & Joyce Thomas
Ohhhh?? So now you & Iain finally admit that you have been teasing all this
time. Thats alright, I get a big kick out of it too.
Seriously, I am so glad that my name is so unusual that there is no doubt where it
came from. It is just a question as to which Family (Clan in today's usage) that
I really should belong to.
Clan Gunn does have many names that I have found in my genealogy, but as several of
you have said, you just have to track them back to see if they really qualify. I
have Davidsons, but I have no doubt as to where they were located. I have found
only Lowland ancestors. Therefore, I am sure that your Davidsons are not mine.
McWilliams is also a name of one of my ancestors. How do you track a name like
that? Many of them, when they came to America dropped the Mc or Mac. What I have
found is that for at least 4 generations over here in USA, they stayed together.
All of them from Dumphrieshire, or at least the Borders. Wilson is another. Very
common name. Jamison is another and of course we all know my Johnstons had a "T"
in the middle.
You can't right and ask "what Clan do I belong to" because you have to track them
back to their Scot origins.
Well, thats enough serious talk from me.
Tiss
LILHULK66
I to have found thru my searching that scot names can have many variants.
Such as my name "Watret' has been traced to
Wataret.Wataret,Watrick,Whutterick,Whiteret,Kittrick,Ketteridge,MacKettric
k,MacKittrick,Makettrik,M'Kethitrryke,Mac Shitrig,Shitric,Sitruicc,& Siggtyggr.
All those names and no clan ties that we know of. From what we have found is
that our famliy has been lowlanders since the beginning, in the Galloway
district.Yet I'm still Scot.
Jay
Ed & Joyce Thomas
> I to have found thru my searching that scot names can have many variants.
> Such as my name "Watret' has been traced to
> Wataret.Wataret,Watrick,Whutterick,Whiteret,Kittrick,Ketteridge,MacKettric
> k,MacKittrick,Makettrik,M'Kethitrryke,Mac Shitrig,Shitric,Sitruicc,& Siggtyggr.
> All those names and no clan ties that we know of. From what we have found is
> that our famliy has been lowlanders since the beginning, in the Galloway
> district.Yet I'm still Scot.
>
> Jay
Quite right!!! Actually mine took a side trip through Ulster before coming to
America.
Tiss
William Jarvis
through Ulster in their travels from Scotland to Canada. (I am searching to see how
many generations the stop-over was.) The others took the direct route to Canada, from
Aberdeen and Ayrshire.
William Jarvis
Ed & Joyce Thomas wrote: