Adams
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Adam,” from the biblical personal name Adam.
The #42 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 722 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Adams comes from the medieval personal name Adam, which entered English through Latin and Old French from the Hebrew name of the first man in Genesis. The surname is patronymic, originally meaning “son of Adam.” Historical forms also include Addams, Adamson, and Addamson, all built on the same base name.
History
The name was already common as a surname in medieval England and became especially widespread because Adam was one of the most popular baptismal names in the Middle Ages. It spread broadly across Britain and to North America, where it became very common among early settlers and remains especially well represented in the United States. The family name has also produced many variants and occasional shortened forms in different records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In 19th-century surname studies, Adams was noted as being especially well represented in the United States, reflecting early migration from Britain.
From the historical record
“Aberdeen Public Library (G. M. Fraser, Esq., Librarian). C. W. Adams, Esq., Haileybury College, Hertford. C. H. Bellamy, Esq., 7, Rue de I'Epidene, Tourcoing. James G. Bisset, Esq., 85, Broad Street, Aberdeen.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)