Surname Thames - Meaning and Origin
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G. Thames
read moreThames: What does the surname Thames mean?
The last name Thames is of English origin and is derived from the Alecic word "tham", meaning "dweller at the river mouth". This could refer to someone who lived by a river, or near a river's mouth. It may also have been used as a habitational surname associated with a place by the same name, such as Thams in Suffolk and Essex counties in England.
The surname Thames is associated with the powerful River Thames, which has been a part of British life and culture since ancient times. It has been seen as a source of power, sustenance, and recreation for many generations. Historically, the River Thames was a major trading route in the Middle Ages, and it was also used for transportation and labor purposes. It also served as a boundary between England and Wales, and was an important part of defense systems employed by early English kings.
Today, the last name Thames and several variants of this name are quite popular in the United Kingdom. It is also found as an occasional surname in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisThames: Where does the name Thames come from?
The last name Thames is most commonly found in England. This name is derived from the River Thames, which is the second longest river in England. It runs through Southern England and flows into the Thames Estuary and the North Sea beyond that.
The origin of the name Thames first appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 895, where it is depicted as Temese. However, the origin of the River Thames' name is mysterious in itself. While the ancient Greek name for the river, Tamesis, is the most likely origin, some suggest it has Celtic origins, with a related name being found in Ireland.
The Thames has historically been an important river, both culturally and economically in England. As a result, the name Thames has been perpetuated throughout history. It has been used for towns and villages, such as Kingston upon Thames, South Thames and East Thames. These days, you can still find the name in many towns and villages, particularly in the Thames Valley region, which includes Reading, Maidenhead and Oxford.
The name Thames has been adopted as the surname by many families. Since the mid-19th century, the name has seen a marked decline in frequency in the UK; however, it remains a relatively widespread family name.
Variations of the surname Thames
The surname Thames is an English name which has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include: Thams, Tamaz, Thamez, Thamses, Thaymes, Thamase, Thaymz, Thaymez, Thaymsez, Thamysez, Thamyz, Thaymyz, Thamex, Thaemez, Thomaz, Theames, Theamesez, Thomes, Themas, Themar, Themesz, Thomesz, Thomse, Thomese, Thomsz, Thomesez, Thomsez, Tumas, Theymas, Thiems, Themes, Theims, Theemas, Temaz, Timaz, Theams, TheameZ, Theemaz, Theamz, Theemez, Theamase, Theemase, Theamsez, Theemsez, Theamsyz, Theamsiz, Theemyz, Theamx, Theamiz, Theamxz, and Thamsiz.
The meaning of the surname Thames is likely attributed to the River Thames, the largest river in England, which is thought to stretch back as far as the Anglo-Saxons. The name derives from the pre-Celtic languages and translates to either “dark” or “flowing”, with “ami” meaning ‘water’ in the Gaelic language.
The spelling variants of Thames may indicate ancestral origin. For example, Thams and Thamez indicate Scandinavian roots, whereas Themes and Theems suggest ancient Greek origins. In some cases, the spelling variations of Thames may indicate place of origin, such as Theamiz which is particular to Cornwall.
In conclusion, the surname Thames has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, likely associated with its derived meaning from the River Thames and in some cases indicating ancestral or place of origin.
Famous people with the name Thames
- Maude Thames: American film editor
- Will Thames: English cricketer
- Abigail Thames: American journalist and television producer
- Richard Thames: English historian and author
- Weston Thames: British comedy writer and television producer
- Esther Thames: American author and columnist
- Joyce Thames: American poet and novelist
- Thomas Thames: Canadian lawyer
- Bessie Thames: American composer
- Robin Thames: American born actor