TAMS

The surname Tams has its roots in the medieval given name Thomas, which is itself derived from the Aramaic name Ta’oma’ meaning “twin”. In this way the name Tams is a patronymic surname that originally signified son of Thomas and later became a distinct family name in its own right.

Early documentary evidence places the name in England in the late sixteenth century. The first recorded spelling appears in the civil licence dated 31 January 1575, when Joyce Tams married Roger Barrett in London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Subsequent entries include John Tames of Caverswall, Staffordshire (20 November 1575); Rogeri and Ellenae Tams of Stoke on Trent (14 March 1636); William and Mary Tams of Sandon, Staffordshire (26 January 1777); and Michael Tams, who married Jane Harrison at Norton in the Woods (10 September 1809). The surname appears in a range of forms—Tam, Tams, Tammes, Tame, Tames, Tammas—particularly in the West Midlands and the northern parts of England.

The name is also associated with geographical features. The ancient British word for a river, Tame, is recorded in the names of the rivers Tame in Northumberland and the Thames. Early church registers of London contain examples of the surname in the variations mentioned above, suggesting a possible link between the name and local waterways. In the eighteenth century, place-name evidence supports a toponymic origin for some bearers of the surname.

Variations of the surname include Tamm, Tammy, Tamb, Tham, Thamm, Thamme, Thammes, Thamms, and Tam. These spellings can all be traced to similar linguistic roots. In Germanic contexts they arise from Low German personal names such as Tamo, derived from the word tam meaning “dark cut”. The surname also appears in Dutch forms such as Taam, Swedish as Tamm, Danish as Thams, and Finnish as Tamminen. Consequently, the name has been recorded throughout continental Europe.

Migration of bearers of the name to North America, Australia and Canada began in the early nineteenth century. In the United States the 2000 census placed Tams as the 6,046th most common surname, with approximately 2,500 individuals. The 2016 Canadian census found 356 people with the surname, ranking it 9,709th. In Australia it is far less frequent, positioned at 31,982nd with only 65 families recorded. Outside of Europe the surname remains uncommon, though it can still be found in pockets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

In sum, the surname Tams is a historically grounded name of Aramaic origin that entered English usage as a patronymic indicator of descent from a Thomas. Its evolution includes toponymic links, diverse variant spellings, and limited but documented overseas dispersion, making it a surname of modest size yet rich heritage.

Typical given names associated with the Tams surname

Male

• Adrian
• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• Gary
• John
• Lee
• Michael
• Paul
• Richard
• Robert
• Stephen
• Thomas
• William

Female

• Barbara
• Christine
• Daphne
• Elizabeth
• Eve
• Jean
• Katie
• Laura
• Linda
• Lisa
• Michelle
• Nicola
• Susan
• Winifred

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Tams in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Tams

• John Tams - Folk musician, music producer and actor
• Tamás, Baron Balogh - Politician (1905 to 1985)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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