ANDERSON
Anderson
Origin and Meaning:
Anderson is a common surname of British origin that is derived from the given name Andrew, which itself is of Greek origin meaning "manly" or "brave." The name was first recorded in Scotland, where it is one of the most popular surnames.
History:
The surname Anderson can be traced back to the early medieval period in Scotland. It was originally used as a patronymic surname, meaning it indicated the father's name. For example, the son of a man named Andrew would be called "Anderson."
Many Anderson families can trace their roots to Scotland, particularly in the regions of Fife, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh. Over time, the surname spread to England and other parts of the British Isles, as well as to countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand through migration and immigration.
Notable Bearers:
- Mary Anderson (1859-1940), American stage actress
- Gillian Anderson (b. 1968), British-American actress famous for her role as Dana Scully in "The X-Files"
- Sir David Anderson (1937-2018), British scientist and educator
Variations:
Variations of the surname Anderson include Andersson (Swedish), MacAndrew (Scottish), and McAnder (Irish).
Trivia:
- The Anderson tartan is a popular tartan design associated with the Scottish clan of the same name.
- The name Anderson is often used as a surname in works of fiction and television shows, with characters like Tony Soprano from "The Sopranos" and Neo from "The Matrix" bearing the name.
References:
- Reaney, Percy H., and Wilson, Richard M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Routledge, 1997.
- Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. New York Public Library, 1946.
There are approximately 111,039 people named Anderson in the UK. That makes it the 45th most common surname in Britain. Around 1,705 in a million people in Britain are named Anderson.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jean
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Anders
- Amderson
- Anderosn
- Naderson
- Ander
- Anderdon
- Anderdown
- Anderes
- Andereson
- Andern
- Andero
- Anderon
- Andersch
- Andersen
- Andersene
- Andersin
- Andersn
- Andersohn
- Andersons
- Anderssen
- Andersson
- Anderston
- Anderton
- Andeson
- Andesson
- Andorson
- Andreasen
- Andreasian
- Andreason
- Andreassen
- Andreasson
- Andreesen
- Andrerson
- Andresen
- Andreson
- Andressen
- Andrewson
- Andriessen
- Andrisan
- Andrisani
- Andrson
- Anerson
- Ankerson
- Annderson
- Annerson
- Aunderson
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.