Thiam

Thiam is a surname of West African origin, most common among Wolof and Fula communities in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania, as well as among diaspora populations with Senegalese or Sahelian heritage. The name is typically used as a family surname and may reflect clan or lineage associations in some naming practices. The exact etymology is not consistently documented in widely available sources, and transliteration from local languages or colonial-era administrative systems has produced variant spellings.

In contemporary usage, Thiam is encountered across various fields, including politics, sport, academia, and the arts. Individuals bearing the name have contributed to public life in West Africa and in diaspora communities around Europe, North America, and beyond, illustrating patterns of migration and cultural exchange associated with the Sahel region.

Variants and transliteration: Spelling differences such as Thiom, Thiamm, or other closely related forms can appear in records, often due to transliteration from local languages and historical administrative practices. Despite these variants, they generally refer to the same family name in West African contexts.