Discovering My Historical Roots: An Exploration into the Surname 'Thome.'
Family name Thome
Embarking on an enlightening historical journey through the iGENEA DNA Test, I discovered the fascinating roots of my ethnically rich surname 'Thome.' With origins tracing back to Middle Ages Germany, the surname evolved from being an occupational one to a familial one, with a tale as vibrant and diverse as Europe itself.
My journey toward finding my roots through the iGENEA DNA Test has indeed been enlightening. To my surprise, I found that my surname 'Thome' carries significant historical resonance and cultural richness. Apparently, 'Thome' traces back to areas of Middle Ages Germany, where it began life as an occupational surname. Trade and occupation based surnames were somewhat unusual at the time, as the general practice involved basing a person's surname on their father’s name (patronymic), or their home region or state (toponymic).
Tracing the surname 'Thome,' I found it to be linked to the old Germanic personal name, 'Thomas,' which was widely popularized across Western Europe due to the biblical apostle of the same name. The etymology suggests the meaning "twin", although it's not clearly stated whether this refers to someone who was a twin, or someone who looked notably similar to another. However, it is the transformation of this personal name into a familial one that provides the most exciting insights.
As I dug deeper, I was astonished to find that 'Thome' was frequently adopted as a surname by those involved in professions related to construction or church building in the Middle Ages in Germany, later spreading to other parts of Europe as craftsmen travelled across boundaries. There were distinct regional clusters for the Thome surname - notably in the Rhineland and the Moselle region which was known for its vibrant architecture that often incorporated innovative and daring designs.
The significance of 'Thome' to my identity is amplified, as I discovered that I have more distant cousins than I could ever imagine - stretching the length and breadth of Europe, right from France to Lithuania. Interestingly, 'Thome' even crossed the Atlantic, finding roots in Brazil and the USA, symbolizing the great diaspora of Europeans during the 18th century.
G. Thome