I believe that the name Thompson is one of hundreds of variant names stemming from the Gaelic name of "MacTamhais". "Mac", means "son of" and "Tamhais" means, "Thomas".
So with Thompson or Thomson you have "Thomas's son". The "mh" in the middle of MacTamhais is pronounced as a "v". MacTamhais was later slightly more anglicised to the name MacTavish. There are hundreds of English and Gaelic versions to the name. Whether your known ancestry stems from Scotland, England, Ireland or elsewhere, it is still a Scottish name with a thousand year history. See the Official Clan MacTavish/Thom(p)son Web Site to understand more at:-

Clan MacTavish/Thom(p)son (Official Web Site)
http://www.mactavish.org/

Clan MacTavish - A Noble Past A Glorious Future
http://www.discribe.ca/tartans/official/MacTavish/MTindex.html

Clan MacTavish
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/mactavi2.html

NOTE: We are not a sept to Clan Campbell as they will dispute. We are a cousin clan to them and have a long shared history. Clan MacIvor is a brother clan. This much has been proven (view information in regard to this using URL's). Clan MacThomas I believe have their origins based in Clan MacTavish. I have no doubt that they may dispute that too. I do accept that Clan MacThomas is a recognised clan in it's own right and can claim some connection to Thompson's, Thomson's and Thomas but I still believe they are a brother clan to Clan MacTavish. That is my opinion. I do agree that one does have to do some serious research to find the facts. I hope anyone searching does find those facts. The URL's will help sort out those facts. Clan MacTavish/Thompson has been without a chief for 200 years since the Battle of Culloden. So for 200 years there was no chief to put the lies and mistakes to rest. Many, but not all have changed their surname spelling due to the Highlander Clearances and many had to flee as I believe did mine from the English to Ireland. It was used as a jump point to Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand and other places around the world (many did stay in Ireland). There are those who did not suffer in the same way and either stayed in Scotland or have had a long history in England and elsewhere.

Contact the Chief of Clan MacTavish/Thom(p)son at dunardry@aol.com

Follow the URL's and you will find a great deal of information and learn much. Enjoy.

Regards, Jim Thompson, Australia.

Thompson Name Origins From Scotland - From Gaelic Name MacTamhais Then MacTavish

Surname: Thompson, MacTamhais, MacTavish

I believe that the name Thompson is one of hundreds of variant names stemming from the Gaelic name of "MacTamhais". "Mac", means "son of" and "Tamhais" means, "Thomas".
So with Thompson or Thomson you have "Thomas's son". The "mh" in the middle of MacTamhais is pronounced as a "v". MacTamhais was later slightly more anglicised to the name MacTavish. There are hundreds of English and Gaelic versions to the name. Whether your known ancestry stems from Scotland, England, Ireland or elsewhere, it is still a Scottish name with a thousand year history. See the Official Clan MacTavish/Thom(p)son Web Site to understand more at:-

Clan MacTavish/Thom(p)son (Official Web Site)
http://www.mactavish.org/

Clan MacTavish - A Noble Past A Glorious Future
http://www.discribe.ca/tartans/official/MacTavish/MTindex.html

NOTE: We are not a sept to Clan Campbell as they will dispute. We are a cousin clan to them and have a long shared history. Clan MacIvor is a brother clan. This much has been proven (view information in regard to this using URL's). Clan MacThomas I believe have their origins based in Clan MacTavish. I have no doubt that they may dispute that too. I do accept that Clan MacThomas is a recognised clan in it's own right and can claim some connection to Thompson's, Thomson's and Thomas but I still believe they are a brother clan to Clan MacTavish. That is my opinion. I do agree that one does have to do some serious research to find the facts. I hope anyone searching does find those facts. The URL's will help sort out those facts. Clan MacTavish/Thompson has been without a chief for 200 years since the Battle of Culloden. So for 200 years there was no chief to put the lies and mistakes to rest. Many, but not all have changed their surname spelling due to the Highlander Clearances and many

Clan MacTavish
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/mactavi2.html