MASSON
In examining the historical lineage of the surname Masson, one finds its roots in the French language, where it is derived from the occupational term maçon, meaning a mason. The word in turn descends from Old French and Late Latin, and it has been used to denote an individual engaged in the art of stonemasonry.
The introduction of the name into England dates from the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Anglo-Norman French form machun (Old French macon or masson) was recorded in a variety of spellings, including Mason, Massen, Macheng, Machent, Machin, Machon, and Mochan. Noticeable early attestations include Roger le Mason in the Cartulary of Oseney Abbey, Oxfordshire (1200), Adam le Machon in the 1279 Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland, and Richard Machen in 1284 Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire. The earliest known spelling, recorded in the Ancient Charters of London during the reign of King Henry I in 1130, is that of John Macun.
In the modern period, the surname appears frequently in English church registers. For example, the marriage of Kinborne Machin and Edward Garland was documented on 12 July 1562 at St. Dunstan’s, East London. The christening of Mary, daughter of Matthew and Jane Mochan, is recorded in 1803 at West Gate Presbyterian, Wakefield, Yorkshire. Another entry shows John Mochan marrying Ellen Carlton on 28 May 1848 at St. Nicholas’, Liverpool, Lancashire. An arms granted to the family features a fesse vair between three gold pelican heads erased, a crest of a black lion’s head erased bearing a gold cap of maintenance, and lends further insight into the heraldic identity of the name.
Although the surname is of French origin, it has become common in a number of Francophone regions, notably France, Belgium, and the Canadian province of Quebec. Its presence in England and the greater United Kingdom is largely a legacy of the Norman invasion, and the name also appears in Scotland, where it is associated with Gaelic-speaking areas and follows the Christian tradition. The distribution of the surname has expanded through migration, and contemporary bearers can be found across the United States, Australia, and other parts of the world, particularly in communities with French linguistic heritage.
Variations of the spelling include Mason, Macson, Manson, Massen, Massan, Mazon, Mayson, Maysen, and Matson. Some less common forms such as Maçon in France or Máson in Spanish-speaking regions also exist. The persistence of these diverse forms reflects the surname’s adaptation to differing linguistic and cultural contexts while retaining its occupational origin.
Thus, the surname Masson exemplifies the historical pattern whereby occupational titles became hereditary family names. It demonstrates the significance of a stonemason’s craft in medieval society and the enduring legacy of that craft within family identity and genealogical records.
Typical given names associated with the Masson surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- George
- Ian
- James
- John
- Paul
- Robert
- Sunil
- William
Female
- Ann
- Anne
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Jean
- Julie
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Sunita
- Susan
- Tracy
Similar and related surnames
- Maison
- Maassen
- Maasen
- Maason
- Maessen
- Masso
- Massone
- Massoni
- Masaon
- Mascon
- Masen
- Masion
- Mason
- Masons
- Masoon
- Masoun
- Massen
- Massom
- Massos
- Massow
- Mayason
- Mayson
- Mazen
- Mazon
- Mazzon
- Meason
- Measons
- Meeson
- Mehsen
- Meison
- Mescon
- Mesen
- Meson
- Messen
- Messon
- Meyson
- Miessen
- Magson
- Maheson
- Mashison
- Mashon
- Maso
- Masoen
- Masom
- Masston
- Mauson
- Mawson
- Maxson
- Mazouni
- Mehson
- Masone
- Mazzone
- Missen
- Missin
- Mizen
- Mosson
- Musson
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Masson in...
Braille
⠍⠁⠎⠎⠕⠝
Morse
--.-......----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 3,481 people named Masson in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,629th most common surname in Britain. Around 53 in a million people in Britain are named Masson.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Masson
- Don Masson - Scottish football player
- Charles Masson - East India Company soldier and explorer (1800 to 1853)
- Jamie Masson - Scottish football player
- Rosaline Masson - Writer (1867 to 1947)
- David I. Masson - Science-fiction writer and librarian (1917 to 2007)
- Diego Masson - French composer and conductor
- William Masson - Canadian politician (1888 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.