Thomas is a common surname of English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Dutch, and Danish origin.
It derives from the medieval personal name, of Biblical origin, from Hebrew תאומא t'om'a, a byname meaning 'twin'. It was borne by one of the disciples of Christ, best known for his skepticism about Christ's resurrection (John 20, John 20:24–29). The th- spelling in English results from the initial letter of the name in the Greek New Testament being a theta. The English pronunciation as t rather than a dental fricative is the result of French influence from an early date. In Britain, the surname is widely distributed throughout the country, but especially common in Cornwall and Wales. Thomas is the ninth most common surname in the United Kingdom. It is found as a personal name among Christians in India, it is also used as a family name among the Saint Thomas Christian families from Kerala, South India.
In the 1990 United States Census, Thomas was the twelfth most common surname, accounting for 0.3% of the population.United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 4 July 2008.
In France, Thomas (pronounced ) is the third most widespread surname after Martin and Bernard, with over 100,000 people with this name.
People
A Aaron Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Abraham Thomas (surgeon) (born 1950), Indian reconstructive surgeon Adalius Thomas (born 1977), American football player Adam Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Ade Renner Thomas, former Chief Justice of Sierra Leone Adonis Thomas (born 1993), American basketball player Adrian Thomas (composer) (born 19??), British? music academic Adrian P. Thomas (born c. 1982), American convicted and then acquitted of infanticide Adrienne Thomas (novelist), pseudonym of Hertha Deutsch (1897–1980), a German novelist Adrienne Thomas (archivist) (born 19??), acting Archivist of the United States Ahmad Thomas (born 1994), American football player Aidan Thomas (born 19??), English footballer Aiden Thomas (born 19??), Latin-American writer A. J. Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people
Akeem Thomas (born 1990), Antiguan international footballer Aki Thomas (born 1979), American basketball coach
Alan Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Albert and Albie Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Albie Thomas (1935–2013), Australian middle- and long-distance runner Alec Thomas (c. 1894 – 19??), Native American linguist, anthropologist, and politician Aled Thomas (born 1985), Welsh rugby union footballer Alek Thomas (born 2000), American baseball player Alex Thomas (born 1978), English rock drummer
Alfonso Thomas (born 1977), South African cricketer Alfred Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Algernon Thomas (1857–1937), New Zealand academic Allan Thomas (born 1990), Lebanese-South African football goalkeeper Allen Thomas (1830–1907), Confederate States Army brigadier general Alma Thomas (1891–1978), American expressionist painter Alun Thomas (1926–1991), Welsh international rugby union footballer
Alyssa Thomas (born 1992), American basketball player Amare Thomas (born 2005), American football player Amber Thomas (born 1993), Canadian Paralympic swimmer Ambroise Thomas (1811–1896), French opera composer Ambry Thomas (born 1999), American football player Aminta Thomas (born 1990), Australian handball player Amos Thomas (Nebraska politician) (1882–1962), American politician and brigadier general from Nebraska Amos Thomas (Wisconsin politician) (1826–?), American politician from Wisconsin Anatole Thomas (born 1970), English cricketer André Thomas (cinematographer) (1911–1956), French cinematographer André J. Thomas (born 1952), American composer Andre Thomas, American man on death row for murdering his estranged wife and two children Andrea Thomas (German athlete) (born 1963), German Olympic sprinter Andrea Thomas (Jamaican athlete) (born 1968), Jamaican Olympic sprinter and middle-distance runner Andrés Thomas (born 1963), Dominican baseball player Andrew and Andy Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people
Angie Thomas (born 1988), American young adult author
Annette Thomas (born 1965), American-born publishing executive Annick Le Thomas (1936–2024), French botanist Anthony Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Antoine Thomas (1644–1709), Belgian Jesuit priest and missionary Antoine Jean-Baptiste Thomas (1791–1834), French painter and lithographer Antoine-Léonard Thomas (1732–1785), French poet and literary critic Antoine Thomas (linguist) (1857–1935), French linguist Antonia Thomas (born 1986), English actress Antonio Thomas, ring name of Tom Matera (born 1980), American wrestler Antony Thomas (born 1940), English filmmaker Anup Mathew Thomas (born 1977), Indian visual artist Arthur Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Arsema Thomas (born 1994), American actress Artie Thomas (1884–1960), Australian rules footballer Arwel Thomas (born 1974), Welsh rugby union international Ashley Thomas (born 1985), English musician and actor aka Bashy Aswad Thomas (born 1989), English footballer Athir Thomas (born 1987), South Sudanese international footballer Audra Thomas, Northern Irish TV presenter Audrey Thomas (born 1935), Canadian novelist and short story writer Augusta Read Thomas (born 1964), American composer Augustus Thomas (1857–1934), American playwright Aurealius Thomas (1934–2021), American football player Austin Thomas (1939–2018), Aruban Olympic fencer Azareye'h Thomas (born 2004), American football player
B Banner Thomas (c. 1954–2017), American bassist Barrie Thomas (born 1937), English footballer Barry Thomas (artist), New Zealand artist and film maker Barry Thomas (cricketer) (born 1956), New Zealand cricketer Barry Thomas (decathlete) (born 1972), British athlete Barry Thomas (rugby union) (1937–2018), New Zealand rugby player Barry Thomas (sound engineer) (1932–2017), American film sound engineer Barry Thomas (speedway rider) (born 1951), British speedway rider Ben and Benjamin Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people
Bernard Thomas (born 1945), Welsh Anglican Archdeacon Bert Thomas (1883–1966), British cartoonist Bertha Thomas (1845–1918), English author Bess Thomas (1892–1968), Australian librarian Betsy Thomas, American television writer Betty Thomas (born 1948), American actress and director Bill and Billie Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people B. J. Thomas (1942–2021), American pop singer Blair Thomas (born 1967), American football player and coach Bob, Bobbie and Bobby Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Bode Thomas (1918–1953), Nigerian politician Borger Thomas (born 1995), Norwegian footballer Brad and Bradley Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Brandon Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Brayden Thomas (born 1998), American football player Brett Thomas (born 1959), American spree killer and rapist Brian Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Brianna Thomas, musical artist Broderick Thomas (born 1967), American football player Bronwen Thomas (born 1969), Canadian freestyle skier Bruce Thomas (musician) (born 1948), English rock bassist Bruce Thomas (actor) (born 1961), American actor Bruce Thomas (cricketer) (born 1942), Australian cricketer Bryan Thomas (American football) (born 1979), American football player Bryan Thomas (architect) (1928–2024), British architect Bryan Thomas (canoeist) (born 1961), Australian canoeist Bryan M. Thomas (1836–1905), American general Bubba Thomas (born 2000), American football player Bud Thomas (pitcher) (1910–2001), American baseball pitcher Bud Thomas (shortstop) (1929–2015), American baseball shortstop Burke Thomas, American musician and record producer Buzz Thomas (born 1969), American politician in Michigan B. W. R. Thomas (born 1940s), Sri Lankan cricketer
C Caitlin Thomas (1913–1994), author wife of Dylan Thomas Calvin Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Cam Thomas (born 2001), American basketball player Cam Thomas (cornerback) (born 1991), American football player Cam Thomas (defensive tackle) (born 1986), American football player Cameron Thomas (defensive end) (born 2000), American football player Cameron Thomas (politician) (born 1982), British politician Carl Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Carla Thomas (born 1942), American singer Carla Thomas (basketball), American basketball player Carlos Thomas (born 1987), American Canadian football defensive back Carmen Thomas (born 1946), German journalist, radio and television presenter, author and lecturer Caroline Thomas (1959–2008), British international relations academic Carrie Thomas Alexander-Bahrenberg (1861–1929), American businesswoman and activist Caryl Thomas (born 1986), Welsh rugby union player Casey Thomas (born 1990), Welsh footballer
Catrin Thomas (born 1964), British ski mountaineer and mountain climber Cave Thomas, English painter Cecil Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Ceiron Thomas (born 1983), Welsh rugby union footballer Celia Thomas, Baroness Thomas of Winchester (born 1945), British politician Ceri Thomas British journalist and media executive C. F. Thomas Chennikkara Francis Thomas (1939–2020), Indian politician Chad Thomas (born 1995), American football player Chan Thomas, American ufologist and writer Chance Thomas (born 1960s), American composer Chantal Thomas (born 1945), French writer and historian Chantal J.M. Thomas, American law professor Charlene Thomas (born 1982), English middle-distance runner Charles Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Chase Thomas (born 1989), American football player Chelsea Thomas (born 1990), American softball player Chloe Thomas (born 19??), British TV and film director Chris and Christopher Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Christi Thomas (born 1982), American basketball player Christian Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Chuck Thomas (American football) (born 1960), professional American football player Claire Thomas (born 1986), American food enthusiast and blogger Clara Thomas (academic), Canadian academic Clara Thomas (politician), American politician Clarence Thomas (born 1948), United States Supreme Court justice Claude Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Clem Thomas (1929–1996), Welsh rugby union international Clendon Thomas (1935–2026), American football player Clete Thomas (born 1983), American baseball player Clevan Thomas (born 1979), American football player Clint Thomas (1896–1990), American baseball player Clive Thomas (disambiguation) Cody Thomas (born 1994), American baseball player Colette Thomas (1929–2001), French Olympic swimmer Connor Thomas (born 1998), American baseball player Conor Thomas (born 1993), English footballer Corey Thomas (American football) (born 1975), American football player Cori Thomas, American playwright Courtney Thomas (born 1988), American beauty pageant titleholder Craig Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Curtis Thomas (born 1948), American politician in Pennsylvania Cyriac Thomas (born 1943), Indian academic Cyril Thomas (boxer) (born 1976), French boxer
D Dafydd Elis-Thomas (1946–2025), Welsh politician Dai Thomas (rugby league) (1879–1958), rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s for Other Nationalities, and Oldham Dai Thomas (rugby union) (1909–??), Welsh international rugby union footballer Dai Thomas (footballer, born 1975), Welsh footballer Dale O. Thomas (1923–2004), American wrestler and wrestling coach Dale Thomas (footballer) (born 1987), Australian rules footballer Dallas Thomas (born 1989), American football player Damar Thomas (born 2004), English boxer Damien Thomas (1942–2025), British actor
Dan and Daniel Thomas (disambiguation), multiple people Dana Thomas (born 1964), American fashion journalist