Madison

Meaning and origin

The last name Madison derived from the English surname "Mateson," which means "son of Mait," Mait being a medieval given name derived from the Old Norse "mættr" meaning "mighty" or "proud." Over time, the name evolved to "Maidesone" and later morphed into Madison. It is an example of a patronymic surname, common in the British Isles, indicating descent from a male ancestor named Mait.

The longer story

The last name Madison is of English origin and is derived from the medieval given name "Maddie." The name "Maddie" was a pet form of the name "Matilda," a Germanic name meaning "mighty in battle." Over time, "Maddon," a variant of "Maddie," evolved into the surname Madison.

The surname Madison is primarily found in England and Scotland, as well as in the United States due to migration and colonization. The earliest documented record of the surname Madison dates back to the 13th century in Scotland.

In England, the surname Madison was mainly found in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire, indicating regional concentrations of the name. It is believed that the surname spread through different branches of the family, leading to variations in spelling such as Matheson, Maddyson, and Madison.

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.