William John Thoms

English antiquarian

Also known as: Ambrose Merton

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July 19, 2026

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William John Thoms, an English antiquarian, coined the English word "folklore" in 1846. He used the pseudonym Ambrose Merton and took credit for the term in a letter to The Athenaeum. Thoms also founded Notes and Queries in 1849, a publication that accepted submissions related to folklore preservation.1

The study of folklore, known as folkloristics, quickly gained traction in scholarly circles in Great Britain and the United States. By 1878, the Folklore Society was established in England, followed by the American Folklore Society in 1888. These societies and their journals became important forums for exchanging information and ideas within the developing discipline.1

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William John Thoms and folkloristics
) The English antiquarian William John Thoms (using the pseudonym Ambrose Merton) coined the English word folklore in August 1846, taking credit in a letter to the periodical The Athenaeum.
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) The English antiquarian William John Thoms (using the pseudonym Ambrose Merton) coined the English word folklore in August 1846, taking credit in a letter to the periodical The Athenaeum.
Read More