Meaning and origin
The last name Davison originates from the patronymic form of the personal name David, derived from the Hebrew name "Dawid," meaning "beloved." The "-son" ending signifies "son of," making Davison the "son of David." This surname has ancient roots in Scotland and England, where it was commonly found as a way to identify individuals as being descendants of someone named David. Over time, variations of the surname developed, such as Davidson and Davison, spreading the name geographically and diversifying its spellings.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,617
Davison was the 1,617th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 22,276 people, about 7.2 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Davison
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Davison is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.