Tompkins

Tompkins is a surname of English origin. It is a patronymic form derived from the given name Thomas with the diminutive suffix -kin, meaning “little Tom” or “son of Tom.” Variants include Tomkins and, less commonly, Tomkinson. The name spread to North America with British and Scottish settlers and is now found throughout the English-speaking world.

Geographically, Tompkins appears in several place names in the United States. The best known is Tompkins County, New York, named for Daniel D. Tompkins, a prominent 19th-century American politician from New York. The name is also used in smaller communities such as Tompkinsville, Kentucky, and in various streets and localities, reflecting wherever bearers or founders left a mark.

Notable bearers of the surname include Daniel D. Tompkins; beyond him, people named Tompkins have made contributions in politics, science, and the arts. The surname remains common in public life and in academic and business institutions that carry the name in honor of bearers or founders.