Parkinson
A classic English surname meaning “Parkin’s son,” originally a patronymic from the given name Parkin, a medieval pet form of Peter.
The #3,637 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 31,611 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Parkinson is a patronymic surname built from the medieval personal name Parkin plus “-son,” meaning “son of Parkin.” Parkin itself was a familiar medieval diminutive of Peter, ultimately from Greek Petros, “stone” or “rock,” passed into English through Old French and Middle English usage. In older surname books, Parkinson is therefore treated as part of the wider Peter-derived family of surnames, alongside Parkin, Perkins, and Parkins.
History
The name is well established in England, where it appears in medieval records in forms such as Parkin and Parkinson. By the 19th century it was recognized as a standard inherited surname rather than a fresh patronymic. It is now especially familiar in the English-speaking world through notable bearers such as the physician James Parkinson, after whom Parkinson’s disease was later named.
Origin
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Fun fact
The famous medical term Parkinson’s disease is named after the English surgeon and apothecary James Parkinson, not the surname itself.
From the historical record
“PARKINSON PARKYNSON PARKISSON ■ Parkin's Son V. Parkin. PARKMAN = Park (q.v.) + man.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)