"Tom-Foolery", huh?

Factual Questions
1

Why not “Bob, Jim, or Gene-Foolery”?

All right, phraseologists: Was it some guy named Tom who was a fool back in medieval times, or what?

Thanks

Quasi

PS: Not one hundred per cent sure if it’s supposed to be hyphenated.

2
3

Tomfoolery also serves as rhyming slang for jewellery (origin UK 1930’s) and in this context is often shortened to tom.