Surname Thys - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Thys: What does the surname Thys mean?
The last name Thys is of Belgian origin and is derived from the given name Thijs, which is a Dutch variant of the name Matthew. This name itself is derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu (מתתיהו), which means "gift of God".
The Thys surname is very common in Belgium, where over 18,000 people bearing the name reside. People with this surname have slightly different spellings, such as Thijs, Thijssen, Thijsen and Tyssen. It is believed that the Thys surname was formed when the Flemish and Dutch began to separate as distinct languages in the late Middle Ages.
The Thys family are thought to be descendants of the Flemish Brabant Interregnum dynasty, a wealthy group of nobles that ruled the Low Countries in the early 1300s. This dynasty held doughty power over the area now known as the Netherlands, meaning the surname Thys could very well have aristocratic roots.
The surname Thys is seen in certain aristocratic titles, such as baron and knight, indicating that it could originate from an ancient noble family. Their descendants in modern times are professionals, entrepreneurs and politicians, both in Belgium and the wider world.
Order DNA origin analysisThys: Where does the name Thys come from?
The last name Thys is most commonly found in the Benelux region of Europe. It originates from the Belgian surname theis/thys, which was derived from the old Germanic patronymic "Thietes". The French variant of this name is Thiès.
The name Thys can be found in many different countries today, particularly in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, France, United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
In Belgium, Thys is a popular surname with over 15,000 individuals having the name as of 2011. Of these, over 10,000 were in the Flemish region. In the Netherlands, Thys is a relatively common surname with approximately 10,000 individuals bearing the name as of 2013.
In Germany, the Thys family can be traced back to 16th century Bavaria and even further north in former Prussia. Large numbers of Thyses can also be found in cities like Frankfurt and Mainz.
In the U.S., the Thys family can be traced back to the colonial period when immigrants from the Benelux region and German states arrived in such places as Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Due to its close association with the Benelux region and Germany, the last name Thys remains relatively uncommon outside of these regions. Despite this, its presence can be found in many countries all over the world.
Variations of the surname Thys
The surname Thys has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Thyse, Thiès, Thysen, Thysz, Thila, Thilen, Tzys, Thyssche, Thyssen, Thissen, Tissen, Teyssens, Teycke, Tiesz, Teysser, Tihse, Tiese, Teysen, Teysz, Tijs, Teyssen, Teyssier, Deysyssen, Dyce, de Thijs, and Dieze.
The surname Thyse is the root of all of these variants and is derived from the Germanic personal names 'Thiodo' and 'Thiedo,' which mean 'people's ruler' or 'leader' in Old German.
Thysen is a variation of Thyse and is often found as Thyssche, Thissen and Tissen. It is derived from a short form of the Old German personal name 'Thiodo,' meaning 'people's ruler.'
Thysz is an alternate spelling and is often found as Thyssz and Teyssz. It is derived from the Old German personal name 'Thio.' It was common among early Germanic tribes and meant 'people or tribe.'
Thila and Thilen are related names, usually found in Flanders. It is derived from the Old German word 'thil,' meaning 'people' or 'family.'
Tzys or Tiesz is also from the Old German personal name 'Thiodo' and is more common in the Netherlands.
Teycke is derived from the Old German personal name 'Thetko.' It is a combination of the elements 'theod' and 'coh,' which mean 'people' and 'warrior,' respectively.
Deysyssen is a variation of Thyse and is found in northwestern Germany. It is derived from the combination of the elements 'theod' and 'sit,' which mean 'people' and 'protection,' respectively.
The variations Dyce, dieze and de Thijs are all derived from the Old German given name 'Dido,' which means 'beloved' or 'welcomed.'
Overall, the surname Thys has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, with a wide range of meanings. From being a sign of nobility to simply meaning 'family' or 'people,' the name has had many interpretations over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Thys
- Seppe Thys: Belgian motocross racer
- Thys Naudé: South African rugby player
- Hennie Thys: former South African football goalkeeper
- Dirk Thys: Belgian racing cyclist
- Tom Thys: retired Belgian racing cyclist
- Pay Thys: Belgian racing cyclist
- Willy Thys: Belgian racing cyclist
- Frans Thys: Belgian racing cyclist
- Monique Thys: Belgian singer and actress
- Ward Thys: Belgian cyclocross racer
- Pascal Thys: Belgian jazz guitarist
- John Thys: former ambassador of Belgium in Russia