Anderson
A classic patronymic surname meaning “son of Andrew.”
The #15 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 394 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Anderson is a patronymic formed from the personal name Andrew, with the ending -son meaning “son of.” In plain terms, it began as “Andrew’s son” and then settled into a hereditary surname. The name Andrew ultimately comes from Greek, with the sense of “manly” or “courageous.”
History
The surname is widespread in the English-speaking world, especially in Scotland, England, and later North America. Historical sources note that spellings such as Andrews, Anders, and Anderson could overlap or shift over time, and the Scandinavian form Andersen is a close cognate. Its very high modern frequency reflects both its plain patronymic formation and broad adoption among English and Scots families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
It is one of the most common surnames in the United States, ranking 15th in the 2010 census.
From the historical record
“an oak, and ton, a hill. ANDERSON. The son of Andrew (which see). ANDREW. (Greek.) From dvdpetoe, manly, courageous. ANGEVTNE. So named because coming originally from Anjou, in France. The natives of Anjou were called OF FAMILY NAMES. 63 ANGLE or ANGEL. (Greek.) From dyye.lof, a messenger ; also the name of a town…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names