DAVISON
The surname Davison is of English origin, originating in the British Isles and first recorded in the early half of the thirteenth century. It derives from the personal name David, a name of Hebrew origin meaning “beloved” or “friend”. The suffix -son denotes a patronymic relationship, rendering Davison literally “son of David”. This construction was common in medieval England as a means of identifiying individuals by their paternal lineage, and the surname thus entered usage among English speakers of that time.
David itself was popular in the Middle Ages, owing to its biblical roots. The name is believed to be a derivative of the Hebraic “Dodaveha”, interpreted as “beloved of Jehovah”. It was borne by prominent figures such as the earliest king of Israel, and later by St. David, the 6th‑century Bishop of Menevia who became patron saint of Wales. The name was also adopted by two Scottish monarchs, David I (1124‑1153) and David II (1329‑1371). The widespread Christian usage of the name across Europe thus provided a fertile ground for the patronymic surname to acquire traction.
Historical documents provide some of the earliest evidence of the name in English records. A man referred to as David Clericus appears in documents related to the Danelaw in Lincolnshire dated 1150, marking one of the earliest recorded bearers of the personal name in England. The surname itself is first found in the mid‑fourteenth century; for example, a John Davideson is mentioned in a descriptive catalogue of ancient deeds in Warwickshire in 1350. Another early entry is the name Thomas Davyson found in the subsidy rolls of Yorkshire for the year 1327, during the reign of King Edward the Early, known historically as “the Father of the Navy”. These entries illustrate the surname’s presence in both northern and central England during the period.
Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has varied. Recorded variants include Davidson, Davson, Davisson, and Davids. Such orthographic diversity is typical of medieval and early modern English surnames, reflecting regional pronunciations and the absence of standardised spelling.
Notable individuals bearing the name in the early modern period illustrate its continued usage. In 1599, George Davison married Jane Hinksley at St. James’s, Clerkenwell, London, a civil union documented in parish registers. Later, during the colonial era, an Alice Davison is recorded as a resident of James City, Virginia, on 16 February 1623, indicating that bearers of the surname had begun to migrate to the New World.
Today the Davison surname remains common within English‑speaking communities worldwide, a testament to its enduring patronymic roots established in medieval England. The name’s continued prevalence reflects the lasting influence of early Christian and monarchical figures who popularised the given name David, thereby cementing the surname’s place in genealogical and cultural history.
Typical given names associated with the Davison surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- William
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- 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 Davison in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Davison are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 23,932 people named Davison in the UK. That makes it the 349th most common surname in Britain. Around 368 in a million people in Britain are named Davison.
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
Famous people named Davison
- Peter Davison - Actor
- Christopher John Davison - Singer from the United Kingdom/Ireland
- Gemma Davison - Association football player
- Aidan Davison - Northern Irish football player
- Brian Davison - Musician (1942 to 2008)
- Libby Davison - Actress
- Raine Davison - Actress
- Bobby Davison - Football player and manager
- George Davison - Photographer (1854 to 1930)
- Paul Davison - Snooker player
- Ian Davison - Cricketer (1937 to 2017)
- Teddy Davison - Football player and manager (1887 to 1971)
- Madge Davison - Irish activist (1950 to 1991)
- Joe Davison - Football player (1919 to 1)
- Richard Davison - Olympic dressage rider
- John Davison - Boxer
- Jimmy Davison - Football player (1942 to 1)
- John Davison - Cricketer (1828 to 1871)
- Andrew Davison - Canadian politician (1886 to 1963)
- Euphemia Davison - (1906 to 1996)
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.