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Why is Thomas Becket called Thomas à Becket?

Best Answers

According to Wikipedia, the name is not historical (i.e. he didn't use it while he lived, nor did his contemporaries use it of him), and may have been based on Thomas à Kempis. read more

Thomas Becket was not called Thomas à Becket during his own lifetime. He was called Thomas à Becket, by people who wrote about him much later, possibly in imitation of the name Thomas à Kempis, who was another medieval monk. read more

St. Thomas Becket, also called Thomas à Becket or Thomas of London, (born c. 1118, Cheapside, London, England—died December 29, 1170, Canterbury, Kent; canonized 1173; feast day December 29), chancellor of England (1155–62) and archbishop of Canterbury (1162–70) during the reign of King Henry II. read more

In the latter’s case, it comes from ‘Thomas of Kempen’, where Kempen identifies the place where he lived (as with Leonardo da Vinci and many other historical figures known by their personal name and their birth place or home town), and the à is the French for ‘at’. read more

Further Research

THE STORY OF THOMAS À BECKET
www.mainlesson.com

Why was Thomas Becket Murdered?
spartacus-educational.com