A surname of Scottish and English origin, meaning 'son of Thomas'. Also refers to people bearing this surname.
From Middle English, combining 'Thomas' (from Aramaic meaning 'twin') with the patronymic suffix '-son'. The name evolved from medieval naming conventions where children were identified by their father's name.
Thompson is one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries, but it's also the name of a famous submachine gun used in World War II. The Thompson submachine gun was nicknamed the 'Tommy Gun' after its inventor John Thompson, creating an interesting connection between a peaceful surname and military history.
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