Surname Adamson - Meaning and Origin
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read moreAdamson: What does the surname Adamson mean?
The surname Adamson is of patronymic origin, deriving from the given name Adam, which comes from the Hebrew "Adama" meaning "earth." The suffix "son" is a Scandinavian influence, meaning "son of," used to identify a man as the son of his father. Hence, Adamson translates to "son of Adam." The given name Adam became extremely popular in Europe after the Middle Ages due to the biblical significance, as Adam was the first man on earth according to the Christian Old Testament. As a result, the surname Adamson spread across many countries, including England, Scotland, Sweden, and Finland. Variations of Adamson across different cultures include Adamsen, Adamsson, and Adam. Despite these variations, the essential connotation remains - that of being descended from an Adam. It's important to note that such surnames were often adopted for functional purposes, to differentiate individuals with common first names, rather than denoting actual patrilineal descent.
Order DNA origin analysisAdamson: Where does the name Adamson come from?
The surname Adamson is of Anglo-Saxon origin, specifically derived from the Hebrew personal name "Adam," which was often given as a personal name in Europe during the Middle Ages. The suffix "-son" is a patronymic addition, meaning "son of," hence Adamson essentially means "son of Adam."
Historically, the name is first recorded in England in the early 13th century, with one Roger Adamson documented in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. In terms of distribution, the surname Adamson is found most densely in Northern England, particularly in Durham and Northumberland.
Today, the surname Adamson remains common in these areas and throughout the United Kingdom. It has also spread beyond its places of origin, largely due to British colonial expansion. It is therefore not uncommon to find Adamson as a surname in other English-speaking countries, especially the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Despite this, the name is still most densely concentrated in the regions of Northern England where it first originated.
Variations of the surname Adamson
The surname Adamson has various variants and spellings due to the influence of different cultures and regions. It generally signifies "son of Adam". Variations include Addamson, Addams, Adamsen, Ademson, and Adimson. Adams and Adames are particularly common, with the former being one of the most common surnames in the USA and England.
There are also versions in other languages such as Adamsson (Scandinavian), Adamovich (Russian), Adamczyk (Polish), and Adamó (Hungarian). Each of these names has the same origin, deriving from the first name Adam which means "man" or "mankind" in Hebrew.
Other surnames that may be a variation or share the same lineage though not identical include McAdam and MacAdam from Scotland, denoting "son of Adam" and D'Adam in French with the same meaning.
Please note that not all bearers of these variants and similar surnames necessarily have common ancestry, as the practice of surname creation based on the father's first name occurred independently in many different cultures.
Also, spelling variations existed due to changes in languages overtime, transcription errors, and deliberate changes for various reasons such as cultural assimilation.
Famous people with the name Adamson
- Joy Adamson: A renowned naturalist, artist, and author known for her book "Born Free."
- Harold Adamson: An American lyricist during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Andrew Adamson: A New Zealand film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his work in the "Shrek" and "Chronicles of Narnia" franchises.
- Stuart Adamson: A Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter known for being the lead vocalist for the rock band Big Country.
- Richard Adamson: An English rugby union player.
- Dylan Adamson: An American actor.
- Bevan Adamson: An Australian rugby league player.
- Donald Adamson: A British writer and scholar.
- Neil Adamson: An English cricketer.
- Robert Adamson: An American actor.
- Jimmy Adamson: A former English football player and manager.
- George Adamson: A British wildlife conservationist and author known for his work with lions.
- Larry Adamson: A former basketball coach in the United States.
- Aileen Adamson: British nuclear physicist.
- Arthur Adamson: An Australia-born American chemist.