Surname MacHomas - Meaning and Origin
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MacHomas: What does the surname MacHomas mean?
The last name MacHomas is of Scottish origin. The "Mac" prefix usually indicates "son of" in Celtic languages, making this surname imply "son of Thomas." The name Thomas itself is of biblical origin, derived from the Aramaic personal name meaning "twin." The full surname MacHomas, therefore, would traditionally imply "son of the twin." However, with the passing of time, surnames have lost their literal meanings and have become more of a family identifier rather than a descriptor. The name MacHomas is quite rare and is most commonly found in the United States, although it retains its roots in Scottish heritage. It is important to note that different texts might give different interpretations of this surname, depending on the historical and cultural context in which it was used. Variations of the spelling may also be found, including McThomas and MacTomais, which are more commonly used in Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacHomas: Where does the name MacHomas come from?
The last name MacHomas is a fairly common surname in both Ireland and Scotland. It is a derivative of the popular Scottish and Irish surnames such as MacTavish and MacGregor. The name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Tamhas, which was popularized by the doyen of Scottish surnames, James MacTavish in the late 18th century. The spelling of MacTavish was then adapted into the Gaelicised patronymic MacThomaidh, which in turn was anglicised into the surname Machomas.
Today, the name Machomas is widespread throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland, having been taken to Ireland by many Scottish settlers. According to the Post Office's UK directory of 1673, the name MacTavish was also established in British natural history at the time. As a result, Scottish and Irish emigrants who chose to settle in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia took the surname Machomas with them. Consequently, the surname can now be found across the Anglo-sphere, as well as in the European mainland.
The link between Machomas and MacTavish is underlined by the fact that both surnames are currently listed with similar frequency in Scotland and Ireland. The two surnames can also be found with reasonable frequency in the United States, where the name MacTavish is also found, as well as in Australia, Canada, and several other English-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname MacHomas
The variant, spelling, and surnames derived from the MacHomas surname are Machom, M'Chomas, MacChomas, MacHomas, MacThomas, Machomas, MacThome, MaChoma, MaChomas, MaHomos, McChomas, McComas, McHomas, Mecomas, M'Homos, and Michomas.
The MacHomas surname originated from Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England during the Middle Ages. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the prefix "mac" meaning "son of," and "Thomas," a personal name based on the biblical figure, Saint Thomas.
MacHomas surnames can be seen throughout Scotland, Ireland, and England, and began to spread to other parts of the world during the 19th and 20th centuries when large waves of emigrants from the regions set out for the United States, Australia, Canada, and other nations.
Machom is thought to be the original form of the MacHomas surname. Its variant spellings come from the Anglicization of Irish, Scottish, and Northern English languages by later generations. This Anglicization is responsible for the strikethrough "h" often seen in MacHomas, as well as the spelling "MacThome."
Instead of mac, other variations sometimes use Mc or M', as in McChomas and M'Chomas, and Ma or Mecomas, as in MaChoma and Mecomas.
These variant, spelling, and surname forms of MacHomas are all derived from the same origin. While the spellings may have changed over the course of time, the meaning of the name has remained the same: the son of Thomas.
Famous people with the name MacHomas
- Thomas MacHomas Stephens: actor and singer
- Jodie MacHomas: model and actress
- Aaron MacHomas: actor
- John MacHomas: football player
- Dave MacHomas: comedian and actor
- Peter MacHomas: singer and songwriter
- Bruce MacHomas: actor, director, and producer
- Tom MacHomas: musician and artist
- Cathy MacHomas: Olympic figure skating champion
- Laura MacHomas: television personality and author