where does the last name thompson derive from
Thompson (surname) Thompson is a patronymic surname of English and Scottish origin, with a variety of spellings meaning "son of Thom".[2] An alternative origin may be geographical, arising from the placename Thompson.[3] Thom(p)son is the English translation of MacTavish, which is also the Anglicized version of the Gaelic name of MacTamhais.[4][5] During the Plantation period, settlers carried the name to Ireland. It is the 14th most common surname in the United Kingdom and 23rd most common in the United States.[6] According to the 2010 United States Census, Thompson was the 23rd most frequently reported surname, accounting for 0.23% of the population.[7]
Leonard The given name and surname originate from the Old High German Leonhard containing the prefix levon ("lion") and the suffix hardu ("brave" or "hardy"). The name has come to mean "lion strength", "lion-strong", or "lion-hearted". It may also be from the Latin Leo ("lion"). Leonard was the name of a Saint in the Middle Ages period, known as the patron saint of prisoners.[1]