EASSON
Easson is a surname of Scottish origin, deriving from the personal name Ewan, a variant of John. The name is understood as a patronymic, signifying “son of Ewan” or “son of John”, with the suffix -son added to the ancestor’s name.
Historical associations reveal that the name first appeared in the mid‑thirteenth century, with a record of Walter de Ayssoun in 1296 as a witness to documents involving King Alexander III and the Bishop of Glasgow. The earliest orthographic variants include Ayson, Eassun and Ayssoun.
In the fourteenth century the family was connected with the (Mac) Toschaches of Glentilt, and the ancient Scottish family known as Esson became documented. The name is thought to have evolved through Aysson to the modern spellings of Easom, Eason and Eassun.
In 1392 a member of the family, Johem Eyson, was outlawed for participation in the killing of the Sheriff of Angus, demonstrating the name’s presence in significant local conflicts. By 1681 John Easson served as a member of the Scottish Parliament at St Andrews, and earlier land charters at Fornochtis in Strathearn were held by a bearer of the surname.
During the nineteenth century the name was most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the counties of Fife, Angus, Aberdeenshire, Midlothian and Dumfriesshire. It also appeared sporadically in England and Wales. Records from 1881 show the name’s distribution across the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname include Esson, Easton, Eassen and others, many tracing back to Old English or Old Norse roots associated with water features such as streams, rivers and waterfalls. The older forms often reflected the geographical setting of early bearers, whether near a running stream, a cliff, or a headland.
The family crest traditionally displays three stars within a shield, with the stars representing intelligence, faith and hope, while the shield signifies strength and protection. The accompanying tartan is frequently described as ‘Weathered’ or ‘Plain’, although variations in colour are sometimes observed.
Although the surname is relatively rare in contemporary times, it remains a distinct marker of Scottish heritage. Individuals bearing the name are thus linked, even if indirectly, to a long and diverse family history that spans several centuries of Scottish society.
Typical given names associated with the Easson surname
Male
- Alexander
- Colin
- David
- George
- Ian
- James
- Jim
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Angela
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Fiona
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jennifer
- Lorraine
- Margaret
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 Easson in...
Braille
⠑⠁⠎⠎⠕⠝
Morse
..-......----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 768 people named Easson in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,057th most common surname in Britain. Around 12 in a million people in Britain are named Easson.
Famous people named Easson
- Jimmy Easson - Scottish football player (1906 to 1983)
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.