Contents [hide]

Tomlin History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Tomlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Tomlin

What does the name Tomlin mean?

The ancestors of the Tomlin surname in Ireland are thought to have arrived with or in the wake of the 12th century Anglo/Norman invasion of the Emerald Isle, led by Strongbow. The surname Tomlin is ultimately derived from the personal names Timothy or Thomas. The Gaelic form of the surname Tomlin is Mac Toimin.

Early Origins of the Tomlin family

The surname Tomlin was first found in counties Wicklow and Carlow (Irish: Cheatharlach) a small landlocked area located in the province of Leinster in the South East of Ireland, from 1172. Timon of Athens (fl. 431 BC) was a citizen of Athens whose misanthropy grew to legendary status. He was the inspiration for Shakespeare's Timon of Athens (The Life of Tymon of Athens), one of his first tragedies.

Early History of the Tomlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tomlin research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Tomlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tomlin Spelling Variations

During an investigation of the origin of each name, it was found that church officials and medieval scribes spelled many surnames as they sounded. Therefore, during the lifetime of a single person, a name could be spelt numerous ways. Some of the spelling variations for the name Tomlin include Timmons, Timmins, O'Timmon, O'Timmons, Tymon, McToimin and many more.

Early Notables of the Tomlin family

More information is included under the topic Early Tomlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tomlin Ranking

In the United States, the name Tomlin is the 2,636^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1

Tomlin migration to the United States +

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape the horrific conditions. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Tomlin:

Tomlin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Matthew Tomlin, who arrived in Virginia in 1636
Mathew Tomlin, who landed in Virginia in 1637 2
Henry Tomlin, who landed in Virginia in 1638 2
William Tomlin, who landed in Virginia in 1652 2
Geo Tomlin, who arrived in Virginia in 1659 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Tomlin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Samuel Tomlin, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 2

Tomlin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tomlin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Tomlin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Tomlin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Tomlin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Tomlin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1849 3
William Tomlin, English convict from Cambridge, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia 4
Thomas Tomlin, aged 36, a carter, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" 5

Tomlin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Tomlin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Tomlin, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Richard Tomlin, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
John Tomlin, aged 54, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
Elizabeth Tomlin, aged 37, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
Richard Tomlin, aged 14, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tomlin (post 1700) +

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (b. 1939), American multiple Tony award and Emmy Award winning actress and comedian, recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2017
Richard H. Tomlin, American politician, Mayor of Portsmouth, Ohio, 1837-38, 1844-46 6
Notley D. Tomlin, American politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Iredell County, 1909-12 6
Mervin W. Tomlin (1893-1938), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from St. Clair County 1st District, 1935-38 6
L. J. Tomlin, American politician, Mayor of Signal Hill, California, 1952-53 6
Jim Tomlin, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 12th District, 1992 6
Jacob G. Tomlin, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Gloucester County, 1855-56 6
Elaine Tomlin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 2004 6
Mrs. E. M. Tomlin, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 1972 6
A. C. Tomlin, American politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Iredell County, 1883-84 6
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Tomlin family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Francis G Tomlin (1881-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 7
Miss Veronica Tomlin (1906-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 7

HMS Repulse

Mr. Francis Tomlin, British Stoker 2ne Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 8

RMS Titanic

Mr. Ernest Portage Tomlin (d. 1912), aged 22, Canadian Third Class passenger from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 9

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ABBERTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Abberton.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia in 1849 with 303 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1849
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RELIANCE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Reliance.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html