MASTERSON
Masterson is a surname with a dual heritage, arising independently in both the Gaelic tradition of Ireland and the Anglo–Scottish milieu of England and Scotland. Its etymology reflects the occupational roles that conferred authority and responsibility within medieval societies.
The name appears in Irish records as Mac an Mháistir, which translates literally to “son of the master.” It was originally applied to the offspring of a steward, a farm manager or another individual who exercised control over a sizeable estate. The use of the patronymic suffix -son clearly denotes descent from such a master.
In Anglo–Scottish contexts the surname finds its roots in the Old English word master, a term for a person who commanded or taught. When combined with the suffix -son, it again signifies “son of the master.” Both the Gaelic and English forms therefore point to a lineage that held a position of authority within a community.
The underlying term for the concept of mastery is the Latin magister, meaning superior or teacher. The word entered English usage long before the Norman Conquest and was recorded in medieval charters and rolls such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridge in 1273 (where a “Angues le Maistre” appears), the 1300 Galloway roll containing a Robert Maistersone as a hostage, and the 1383 Cambridge pardons roll with a Richard Maysterman. Subsequent entries include William Maisters of Stafford in 1327 and the Poll Tax rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, which list Johannes Maister and Willelmus Mausterman.
Variations of the spelling have persisted through the centuries. Records show the forms Master, Masters, Masterman, Masters, and Masterson in England and Scotland. Other forms such as Masterton and Masturzo have been noted in English‑speaking countries. In Ireland the name has also been Anglicised as Meehan, originating from Ó Miadhacháin, although this connection is less direct and likely reflects a separate line of orthographic adaptation.
In the present day the surname is most frequently encountered in the United States, particularly in Illinois, California and Texas, owing to 19th‑ and 20th‑century migration. Nonetheless, the United Kingdom and Ireland continue to have a significant concentration of persons bearing the name, with Irish records revealing a higher density, a pattern that mirrors the historical exodus from Ireland during the Great Famine and subsequent years.
Typical given names associated with the Masterson surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Angela
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Karen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Maureen
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Zoe
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 Masterson in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 2,866 people named Masterson in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,115th most common surname in Britain. Around 44 in a million people in Britain are named Masterson.
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 Masterson
- Danny Masterson - American actor
- Alanna Masterson - American actress
- Christopher Masterson - American actor
- Fay Masterson - Film, television and video-game actress
- Valerie Masterson - Singer and actress
- Joseph Masterson - Catholic bishop (1899 to 1953)
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.