Surname Tomerlin - Meaning and Origin

Tomerlin: What does the surname Tomerlin mean?

The last name Tomerlin is of Germanic, or Anglo-Saxon, origin. It is common throughout the Anglophone world, especially in countries with a history of migration from Britain and Germany. The root of the name is Tomer, which is a variation of the Germanic name Thomas, meaning "twin".

In many cultures, twins are associated with special powers, such as forseeing the future and communing with the gods. It is not a surprise, therefore, that Tomerlin has often been linked with magical thinking and strong spirituality over the centuries. The name is often associated with sage-like figures who provide spiritual guidance and healing in an ancient form.

Tomerlin itself has several variations in spelling, such as Tomerlene, Tomerland, and Tomerling. It is a unisex name, meaning it is common for both boys and girls. In some parts of the world, the name is even seen as a sign of good luck.

In modern usage, the last name Tomerlin remains an ever-present reminder of a proud and powerful legacy. It stands for ingenuity, resilience, and the potential for growth—all qualities that make the name an influential and meaningful part of today's families' collective heritages.

Tomerlin: Where does the name Tomerlin come from?

Today, the last name Tomerlin is found mainly in the United States. It's most prominent in the South and especially the Carolinas, with a small number of Tomerlins living in other Southern states and the Midwest.

Tomerlin is an uncommon name. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the name is found in under 1,000 households nationwide. It is an Americanized form of the Dutch name Tomerling and is also known as Tomling, as some of the earliest immigrants to the US changed the spelling when they arrived.

Tomerlins in the Unites States today likely descend from Johannes Tomerling, an early immigrant who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737. It is likely that he was part of the Palatine migration, as many of his descendants moved to North and South Carolina and some of the eastern parts of Tennessee.

In North and South Carolina, the name is still fairly common in rural areas, primarily in the form of Tomlin, Tomerlin, or Tomlinson. There are also a few instances of the original Dutch spelling, Tomerling, in the Carolinas, particularly in North Carolina.

Variations of the surname Tomerlin

Tomerlin is an uncommon surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old High German personal name ‘Tumel’, which was a diminuitive of various names, including ‘Thomas’ and ‘Tom’. The most common variants of Tomerlin include: Tomerling, Tomerline, Tomerlyn, Tomerelin, Tomerlien, Tomerlinn, Tomerline and Tomerlynn.

In some cases, the German spelling of this surname made its way to the U.S. as ‘Tummel’. This variation is still rare, but it does exist.

Other surnames of the same origin are Tom, Toms, Tome, Tomes, Tomlin, Tomlins, Tomlinson, Tomlison, Tommil, Tommell, Tomson, Thul, Thurm, and Tinoe. In Anglo-Saxon countries, variants also include Tholman, Tallman, Tolman, and Thalman.

In some cases, the surname Tomerlin has been Anglicised as ‘Tilman’ or ‘Tillman’, though this variation is much rarer.

Finally, some German emigrants may have changed their name to ‘Domerlin’ or ‘Dommerlin’, though these variations are extremely rare.

Famous people with the name Tomerlin

• Jaida Tomerlin, an American actress
• Evan Tomerlin, an American actor
• Carra Tomerlin, an American sound designer
• Lang Tomerlin, an American writer
• Linda Gail Tomerlin, an American radio presenter
• Ruth Tomerlin, an American vaudeville radio and stage actor
• Nathan Tomerlin, an American radio and Chicago radio personality
• Allen Tomerlin, an American songwriter
• Clay Tomerlin, an American filmmaker
• Ginger Tomerlin, an American model

Other surnames

Tomerlinson