Eliason
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Elias,” ultimately tied to the biblical name Elijah.
The #8,775 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 82,663 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Eliason is a patronymic surname built from the personal name Elias, with the suffix -son meaning “son of.” Elias is the Greek and Latin form of the biblical name Elijah, so the name ultimately means “son of Elias” or “descendant of Elijah.” In Scandinavian naming patterns, similar forms such as Eliassen and Eliassen are common, and the surname may also have arisen as an Anglicized or contracted form of those names.
History
The Manx evidence suggests that Eliason was present on the Isle of Man by the early modern period and was later found there chiefly in the north of the island. The same source explicitly treats Ellison as a contracted form of Eliason and compares Danish forms such as Elissen and Eliassen, pointing to wider North Sea naming patterns. In modern usage, Eliason is best known in English-speaking countries as a relatively uncommon patronymic surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A historical Manx source specifically notes Eliason as the form from which the shorter surname Ellison was contracted in parts of the island.
From the historical record
“Faraund [1511], Farrant [1653]. Ellison [1670], contracted from Eliason, is found chiefly in the northern part of the Island. Compare (Danish) Elissen, Eliassen. Fletcher [1621]. Edward Fletcher was Deputy- Governor in 1621, and Governor in 1622. This”
— The Surnames & Place-Names of the Isle of Man