Surname Thum - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing My Roots Through iGENEA: A Journey of Self-Discovery Beyond the Thum Surname
The results of my iGENEA DNA test radically reshaped my understanding of my family's complex lineage. This newfound knowledge, which extends beyond my presumptions of Western European ancestry associated with the Thum surname, has drastically altered my perception of my own family identity.
Y. Thum
read moreThum: What does the surname Thum mean?
The surname Thum has its origins in Germany and is believed to have derived from the Middle High German term 'thum', which means 'pigeon'. Thus, the name could have been an occupational name for someone who bred or sold pigeons. It might also have been used as a nickname for a person who resembled a pigeon in some way. Another possibility is that it could be a habitational surname for someone living in a house distinguished by the sign of a pigeon. However, the precise interpretation of the surname can vary from family to family due to regional differences and evolutions over time. Like many surnames, its exact origins and meaning may not be fully known or agreed upon by all genealogical researchers. Please note that surname meanings are often a result of centuries of linguistic process, including personality characteristics, occupation, geographical location, or physical features.
Order DNA origin analysisThum: Where does the name Thum come from?
The last name Thum is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. According to the website Forebears, it is the 1,195th most popular last name in Germany, where it is concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is also very prevalent in Austria, and its popularity is steadily growing in the U.S.
Thum is likely derived from the name Thumer, a salutation of respect used in the Middle Ages. In some cases, it is thought to have originated from a place called Thumerhofen, located in the Bavarian region of Schwaben. Other possible origins of the name include ‘dweller by a lake or pool’ and ‘dweller at a clearing in the forest’ depending on the dialect used to create the name.
In the U.S., the last name Thum is especially popular in California, Florida, Texas, New York, Illinois, Virginia, and Massachusetts among other states.
Thum is an occupational surname, and in modern times, it is used the same way a last name would be. It can also be seen in marriage and baptism records from the 1500s and 1600s, when Thum was added to surnames to denote someone’s place of origin, rank, or profession. In some cases, it is used to distinguish between boys and girls with the same given name.
Variations of the surname Thum
The surname Thum is of Germanic descent and is believed to have derived from the personal name 'Thumbi', which translates as 'Strong'. While the Thum surname is not very common, there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of the Thum surname include Thom, Thoma, Toem, Toemm and Toemme. Spellings of the surname also include Thumme, Thumm and Thumme.
Surnames derived from the Thum name include Thummel, Thumer, Thumser, Tummel, Tumser, Tümmel, Tümmer and Tümpler.
Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Thum surname include Thon, Thonen, Thommen, Tomen, Tommen, Touman and Toumans. Spellings of the Thon surname include Thonn and Thonnen. Some of the other surnames derived from Thon are Thonemann, Thumann, Thummann, Thunemann and Tumen.
Although the Thum surname is not very common, there are a wide variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Each of these surnames are derived from the original Germanic personal name 'Thumbi', which translates as 'Strong'.
Famous people with the name Thum
- Patricia Thum: Artist, professor and entrepreneur for edtech.
- Julius Richard Thum: German engineer, prominent member of Lehrstuhl für Eisenbahnwesen at Technical University of Munich.
- Jenny Thum: American molecular biologist, currently professor at California Institute of Technology.
- Christina S. Thum: American physicist, currently working for the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Johann Baptist Thum: German philosopher and theologian, lived during the 18th-19th century.
- Helga Thum: German sculptor, whose works are prominently featured in museums throughout Europe.
- Diana Thum: American aerial photographer, active since the 1970s.
- Robert Thum: Palestinian photojournalist, whose work has been featured in magazines such as National Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine.
- Erich Thum: Swiss inventor, responsible for the Thum Chair, a revolutionary folding chair.
- John D. Thum: American aviation pioneer, involved in the development of the world's first four-engined airliner.