Surname Alison - Meaning and Origin
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Alison: What does the surname Alison mean?
The surname Alison is of Scottish origin and means "son of Alis" or "son of Alice". The name Alis is derived from Greek roots and is a variation of the name Alice, meaning "noble" or "nobility". Over time, the name evolved and was adopted as a patronymic surname, signifying that the original bearer was the "son of Alis". As with many surnames, over time it spread across regions and came to be a common last name in various countries including England, Ireland, and France. The surname Alison evolved into various forms including Allison, Allason, and Ellison. Each variation holds the same root meaning relating to the parent-child relationship.
Order DNA origin analysisAlison: Where does the name Alison come from?
The surname Alison, also spelled as Allison, is of old French and Scottish origin. It comes from the personal name "Alice" or "Alis" plus the French suffix "-son" which interprets as "son of Alice". In the late Middle Ages, it was often used as a baptismal name, after which it transformed into a patronymic surname.
The expansion of the Anglo-Norman influence, following the invasion of England by William the Conqueror, brought the name to British soil. Alison was first found in the region of Suffolk, England, becoming more common by the 13th century. This surname spread to Scotland in the 14th century. The name was primarily used in the northern and western border regions of Scotland, where early records show many bearers of the Alison lineage.
Today, Alison is widespread in English-speaking countries, more common in Scotland and the United States. Various Alison families were among the thousands who migrated from Britain to New World colonies, bringing their heritage with them. This significantly influenced the prevalence of the Alison surname in these English-speaking countries. Despite its distribution, the name is not significantly common, typically ranked outside the top 1000 most common surnames worldwide.
Variations of the surname Alison
The surname Alison originates from the personal name Alice. It is derived from the old French term "alis" which later became "alice". The "-son" ending means "son of", therefore Alison traditionally means "son of Alice". The surnamed evolved from Alison to have many variants and spellings over time. Common variants and misspellings include "Allison", "Alyson", "Alisonne", "Aloson", "Alisson", "Alason", "Aleson", "Elison", "Ellison", "Ellyson" and "Elisson".
The surname has also variations such as "Allinson", coming from "Allin's son". The Scottish form, MacAlasdair, has been anglicised to "Alison" or "Allison" as well. Therefore, families with the surname "MacAllister" or "MacAlister" may have ancestors with the surname "Alison". Similar surnames potentially of the same origin, depending on geographic location and family history, are Adderson, Anderson, Apperson, Atkinson and Avison.
It's important to remember that the assignment of surnames was often based on occupation, physical features, or location, so the evolution and variation of this surname is broad and can include many more iterations.
Famous people with the name Alison
- Alison Lohman: An American actress known for her roles in successful films such as "White Oleander" and "Big Fish".
- Alison Brie: A popular American actress featured in TV series like "Mad Men", "Community", and more recently "GLOW".
- Alison Krauss: A renowned American bluegrass-country singer and musician, who has won 27 Grammy Awards.
- Alison Moyet: An English singer, songwriter, and performer notable for her powerful bluesy contralto voice.
- Alison Sudol: An American singer, songwriter, actress, and music video director, best known for her role in "Fantastic Beasts".
- Alison Sweeney: An American dramatic actress, reality show host, director, and author best known for her role in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives".
- Alison Bechdel: A prominent American cartoonist and the creator of the Bechdel test.
- Alison Eastwood: An American actress, director, producer, fashion model, and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor/director Clint Eastwood.
- Alison Pill: A Canadian actress who has worked in numerous films and television series including "The Newsroom" and "American Horror Story".
- Alison Goldfrapp: An English musician and record producer who is the lead vocalist of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp.
- Alison Doody: An Irish actress and model known for her roles in James Bond film and Indiana Jones.