Thomasson
A surname meaning “son of Thomas,” with a form influenced by French-style diminutive endings in some traditions.
The #6,926 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 63,738 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Thomasson is built from the personal name Thomas, itself a very common medieval Christian name, plus a surname-forming ending. In English it was understood as “Thomas’s son,” while one historical line of explanation also sees influence from French diminutive forms in -on/-in. The literal sense is therefore “descendant of Thomas,” though the exact shape of the name may vary by region and language contact.
History
Historical records show the name in England by the late 14th century, and it appears alongside related forms such as Thompson, Tomson, and Thomerson. Scholars of surname history have treated it as a straightforward patronymic, though some noted French-style surname shaping in continental forms. It is now relatively uncommon in the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century surname writer specifically grouped Thomasson with a cluster of Thomas-based surnames, showing how many spellings grew from the same root family name.
From the historical record
“suff. -in. THOMASSON i ^ Thomas's Son : v. Thomas. 2 = Thomas (q.v.) + the Fr. dim. suff. -on. THOME, like Thonrii a dim. of Thomas, q.v, Thomerson”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)