Surname Thampi - Meaning and Origin
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Thampi: What does the surname Thampi mean?
Thampi is a surname predominantly found in the southern Indian state of Kerala, mainly among the Syrian Christian community. The word "Thampi" in Malayalam (the language spoken in Kerala) translates to "little brother" or "younger brother". Historically, it was a title given by the king to his close confidants, advisers, or officials, who were considered metaphorically as the king's younger brothers. These honorees and their descendants then used the title as a surname or prefix. However, the specific meaning of the surname might vary based on regional and familial traditions. Like many South Asian surnames, Thampi also indicates a person's social status, occupational or regional identity, lineage, or patronymic information.
Order DNA origin analysisThampi: Where does the name Thampi come from?
The last name Thampi is most commonly found in the state of Kerala in India. It is believed to be an ancient name of a local family. The history of Thampi is believed to go back to the Travancore Kingdom, which was an independent and powerful kingdom in India between 1729 and 1947.
Thampi is a common surname in the southern states of India. It is believed that the Thampi family traces its ancestry from the prominent Travancore warriors who served the Travancore army in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of these warriors were conferred with honors and were granted with high ranks and titles for their meritorious service in the defense of the kingdom.
Today, the surname Thampi is a common name among the Hindus of Kerala. It is widely found among the Nair, Menon, and Pillai families. Apart from Kerala, this surname can be found in a few other locations in India such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The surname Thampi is also found amongst members of the diaspora living in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Thus, the surname Thampi is not only restricted to India and is spread across many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Thampi
Thampi is a title used to refer to members of the Thampi community of Kerala, a south Indian state. The many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Thambi, Thamby, Thambya, Thambyah, Thampi, Thampy, Thampya, Thampyah, Thambya, Thambyah, Thampya, Thambiyil, Thampiyil, Thampiyill, Thambiyl, Thampiyl, Thampiyill, Thambit, Thambits, Thambitz, Thambits, Thambites, Thampits, Thampites, Thambians, Thampians, Thamplen, Thombya, Thombyah, Thompi, Thompy, Thompya, Thomby, Tomby, Tombya, Tombyah, Tompi, Tompy, Tompya, Tompiyah, and Tompiyil.
The surname Thampi comes from an ancient warrior caste of the Kerala region that were renowned for their courage and loyalty. It is further believed to be derived from the word ‘tham’, meaning ‘bravery’ or ‘reliability’. These names can also be Madrimalayalam, meaning ‘honour’ or ‘praise’ which further adds to the dignity of the Thampi family itself.
Over the years, due to migration, the use of different spellings of the surname Thampi have become increasingly popular. It is also believed that many Thampi families changed their surnames to avoid drawing attention to themselves due to communal violence or because of the adoption of different religions that were not accepted by the majority.
Rushidis, Asurams, Bhavadas, Kuditengals, Polyats, Illips, Pothans, Nayans, and Antapps are some of the various names with which the Thampi community are known in different parts of India. Thus, the surname Thampi and its various forms can be loosely referred to as the umbrella for all these communities.
Famous people with the name Thampi
- Shibu Thampi: Indian film score composer and music director.
- Anand Thampi: Indian fashion designer.
- Athul Thampi: Indian cricketer who represented Kerala in the Ranji Trophy.
- T.K. Thampi: Keralan poet, teacher and revolutionary.
- Jyothsna Thampi: Indian film actress.
- Reena Thampi: Indian film actress, model and producer.
- Subhash Thampi: Indian film writer, actor and director.
- Ambalaparambil Thampi Easo: Indian Cinematographer.
- Jimmy Thampi: Indian singer, composer and owner of the studio Perumbavoor Music Company.
- Fokari Thampi: Indian director and producer in the film industry.