ANTHONY
Anthony is a surname that has been used in the British Isles for over seven centuries. It is derived from the given name Anthony, itself a Latinised form of the ancient Roman clan name Antonius.
The name Antonius has an uncertain etymology, but it is usually linked to the Latin word meaning “praiseworthy” or “priceless.” In medieval Europe the name was reinforced by the Roman tradition that it was derived from the Greek word anthos, which means “flower.” This Greek association has led to interpretations of the name as a symbol of beauty and grace.
Christianity played a significant role in popularising the name. Two saints are chiefly responsible for that spread. St. Anthony of Egypt (c.251–331) was a founder of monasticism in the 4th century, while St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) was an eminent disciple of St. Francis of Assisi. Their dedication and preaching earned the name a wide reputation across Christendom.
The first medieval records of the surname appear in England and Germany. In 1275 a John Antoyne is listed in the charters of the county of Worcester, England, and in 1306 William Antony is mentioned in the tax charters of Suffolk. The name also appears in Germany in 1527 with the town clerk, Schultheis Anthonius, of Kassel.
In subsequent centuries the surname expanded rapidly and now exists in more than one hundred individual spellings. Variants such as Antony, Antoine, Anton, Antona, Antoinet, Antonelli, Antognoli and Antuk are all recognised. Patronymic forms, including Antunez, D'Antoni, Antoons, Antonssen, Antonov and Antonwicz, further illustrate the widespread influence of the name across different linguistic traditions.
Today the surname Anthony remains common throughout the world, reflecting its long and diverse heritage that spans Roman, Greek, and Christian cultures.
Typical given names associated with the Anthony surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Alison
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jane
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Anthony in...
Braille
⠁⠝⠞⠓⠕⠝⠽
Morse
.--.-....----.-.--
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Anthony are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Dark Chocolate Digestive.
There are approximately 9,469 people named Anthony in the UK. That makes it the 987th most common surname in Britain. Around 145 in a million people in Britain are named Anthony.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Anthony
- Carmelo Anthony - American professional basketball player
- Gethin Anthony - Actor
- Susan B. Anthony - American women's rights activist (1820 to 1906)
- Alani Nicole "La La" Anthony - American actress and television personality
- Daniel Anthony - Actor
- John Anthony - Music producer
- Tony Anthony - Evangelist known for disputed personal claims
- Kate Anthony - Actress
- Nigel Anthony - Actor
- Anthony - Lawyer (1915 to 2006)
- Billie Anthony - Scottish female singer (1932 to 1991)
- Anthony - Musician
- Major General Anthony - Army general
- Paul Anthony - Rugby union football player
- Robert N. Anthony - Business academic (1916 to 2006)
- Graham Anthony - Football player
- Byron Anthony - Football player
- Rick Anthony - Musician
- Gordon Anthony - Photographer (1902 to 1989)
- Anthony - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.