Tracing the Origin of Names

1919--

Tracing Origin of Names

Well-Known Surnames of English Families Had Their Beginning at the Baptismal Font

Many English surnames had their origin in baptismal names. The following well-known names are of this kind: Adams and Addison, from Adam; Atkins and Arkinson, from Arthur; Anderson and Henderson, from Andrew; Sanders and Saunders, from Alexander; Elkins and Elkinson, from Allan; Benson, from Benjamin; Bates and Bartlett, from Bartholomew; Kelley, from Charles; Davidson, Davison and Dawson, from David; Ellis, Ellison and Elliott, from Elias; Gill, Gilpin, Gibbs and Gibson, from Gilbert; Jefferson and Jeffries, from Geoffrey; Harris, Harrison, Hawkins and Hall (sometimes), from Henry; Hewson, from Hugh; Jones, Jennings, Jenkins and Jackson, from John; Lucas (Latic), from Luke; Madison and Maison, from Matthew; Pierce and Perkins, from Peter; Pollock and Polk, from Paul; Paterson and Pattison, from Patrick; Dick, Dickson, Dixon, Dickens, Dickinson, Dickerson and Richards, from Richard; Robinson, Robbins, Roberts, Dobson, Dobbins and Hopkins, from Robert; Hudson and Rodgers, from Roger; Simpson from Simon; Thompson, Tomson, Tomkins, from Thomas; Watson, Watkins, from Walter; Wilkins, Wilkinson, Williams, Wilson, Wilcox, Wills, Wylie, from William; and, of course, all Christian names ending in son, such as Williamson, Johnson, Robertson, and the like.

--The Hamilton Daily News, Hamilton, Ohio, October 6, 1919, page 9.