Welcome to the Thayer Families Association!
We Are A Bundle Of Our Ancestors
Please be aware that throughout the website, words Like this, or this, usually are links to another pertinent page.
We invite you to embark on a once in a lifetime journey tracing your Family's past. The Association was founded in 1991 and is the result of many dedicated Thayers as well as non-Thayers with a common goal to see where they came from and the history involved in this truly remarkable surname. The TFA founders stated goal was “To sponsor the development, publication, and distribution of a rigorously researched Thayer Genealogy” so that anyone could learn about their ancestry and the history of this truly remarkable surname. TFA is a Family Association, incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as a non-profit corporation, under the name "Thayer Families Association".
Everyone in the Thayer Families Association is offering you a wonderful experience to meet your cousins, some you may already know, and some you probably have never met, or even knew existed.
With members across the United States plus Canada and Ireland, the Thayer Families Association welcomes all who have an interest in Thayer families, including all variant spellings. Please check out what we have to offer. We hope you will return to see the additional features as we go forward. If you have suggestions or comments, please contact us HERE.
We now have a public outreach platform on Facebook — click HERE to access our page! You can use our "Thayer Families Association" page to connect with others interested in our heritage; to share historical photos and genealogy-related information, or to ask questions of our online community. Please note that becoming a free member of our Facebook page does NOT substitute for all the many other benefits you receive as a paid member of our association.
Click HERE to check out our Member Benefits and Join Today via our Online Join Feature . . . You can join the Thayer Families Association online by using PayPal, Stripe, or Credit Card and have immediate access to over 30 years of newsletter archives and other member-only features.
Or Join By Mail . . . If you prefer joining by regular mail, complete the membership application form available HERE that you may fill on your computer, then print, and mail it along with your check to TFA.
We have added the INDEX OF NAMES from all of Patricia Thayer Muno's "A Comprehensive Genealogy of the Thayer Families of America" so that you may learn which volume contains your family's information. The complete set is in Patricia's Corner in a searchable format.
National Thayer Families Association 2026 Reunion News!
September 24-27, 2026
Save the Date!
By Bob & Ginny Sons
We have secured the Omaha Marriott Regency as our host hotel. Room options will include either a Double/Double or a King at a rate of $119.00 per night. A dedicated reservation link will be distributed shortly so attendees can conveniently book their rooms.
The reunion schedule is shaping up as follows:
Thursday: 24 September 2026
Travel day for most attendees. That evening, we will host a relaxed Meet and Greet social at the hotel bar to welcome arriving guests. Even for those who choose to stay at a different hotel for cost considerations, they are warmly invited to join us for this gathering.
Friday: 25 September 2026
The day will begin with arranged transportation for travel within the Omaha area and then on to Lincoln. There, the group will attend a Historical Society presentation focusing on John Milton Thayer and his contributions to the Nebraska Territory.
Friday evening, we will return to Omaha and enjoy dinner in the historic Old Market district, known for its cobblestone streets and vibrant local atmosphere.
Saturday: 26 September 2026
This will be a flexible local day with several optional activities. Participants may attend as groups or explore individually. Planned options include: A visit to the renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, one of the largest and most respected zoos in America. The Joslyn Art Museum, named after one of Omaha’s early civic founders. The The Durham Museum, highlighting Omaha’s history, Native American heritage in the Midwest, and the pivotal role of the Union Pacific Railroad in connecting the East and West.
For those who enjoy NCAA football, the Nebraska Huskers will have a home game that weekend. If there is sufficient interest, we can explore arranging in-stadium viewing opportunities. Saturday evening will conclude with a formal dinner for all attendees. The specific venue is still being finalized.
Sunday: 27 September 2026
Departure for home! We are currently negotiating shared costs to ensure the most favorable pricing possible. A finalized agenda, detailed pricing, and additional logistics will be circulated soon.
We are very much looking forward to this upcoming reunion. Once again, we thank everyone for their understanding and grace last year following the passing of our mother and father, which necessitated rescheduling. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather together this year.
The General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace is a historic house located at 786 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts. Sylvanus is known as the "Father of West Point". The house is now operated year-round as a non-profit museum by the Braintree Historical Society. Please contact them for more information.
TFAers at Thayer Academy Chapel
The Thayer Quarterly Complete Name Index
If you would like to join the Thayer Y-DNA Project, please click "DNA" in the main menu above; then click the blue "DNA Research" button; then click on the "JOIN" button near the top right of the page and fill in the requested information. I will respond to your request and you will be sent a link with information on how to purchase a test kit. Links at the top left of the website provide information and will answer many of your questions. The Y-DNA111 test is recommended for people joining the Thayer DNA Project as it provides the largest test data. The cost varies due to frequent sales.
Sylvanus Thayer of West Point
Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General Sylvanus Thayer also known as the "Father of the Military Academy", was an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point and an early advocate of engineering education in the United States.
Welcome To West Point
Story of West Point 1952
The West Point Cemetery
The Making Of A West Pointer - The Big Picture
How West Point Makes Over 13,000 Meals A Day For Army Cadets
Brigadier General James B. Thayer
This is a tribute to retired Oregon Army National Guard Brigadier General James B. Thayer, who was the guest of honor at the All-Star Salute to the Oregon Military event held May 18, 2012 at the Oregon Golf Club. The event kicked off the Capital Campaign to raise funds for the new Oregon Military Museum in Clackamas. He was joined by his son Tommy Thayer, lead guitarist of the rock band KISS, former Oregon Governors Vic Atiyeh and Ted Kulongoski, golf legend Peter Jacobsen, and many others. This tribute gives a historical look back at the life's accomplishments of a soldier, father, friend, respected local business owner, and WWII hero.
Oregon Military Museum Project
Three generations of Thayers have graduated from the UO, beginning with Brigadier General (ret) James B. Thayer '47, and continuing through sons John '81 and Mike '85, and most recently twin grandsons Matthew '11 & Patrick '11.