Surname Charleson - Meaning and Origin

Charleson: What does the surname Charleson mean?

The last name Charleson is of Scottish origin and is a habitational name which is derived from the place name Charlestown or Charles Town in the south of Scotland. It was originally derived from the personal name Charles, a variant of the French name Charles, which ultimately derives from the Latin Carolus, meaning “strong” or “manly”. The name is derived from a combination of the elements ‘carol’ meaning ‘man’ and ‘tun’ meaning ‘enclosure’ or ‘settlement’. It likely refers to a fortified settlement founded by Charles, or perhaps a settlement devoted to a saint with the name Charles.

The surname Charleson is also linked to Clan Campbell, meaning those who held the surname were likely members of the clan. The Clan Campbell is an exceptionally large Scottish clan which holds the longest lineage of any family in Europe, dating back to the 12th century. Though originally, the Clan Campbell held root in Argyll, their influence expanded throughout Scotland and to the United States, where today many with the surname Charleson, and variant spellings, can be found.

Charleson: Where does the name Charleson come from?

The last name Charleson is quite commonly found throughout the United States and other English-speaking countries, but there is also a notable presence of the surname throughout the British Isles. The earliest documented ancestor of the Charleson family in the United Kingdom was noted to be Sir John Charleson, who lived circa 1625.

The surname is found heavily in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen, where it was most often seen in families with long-standing land-owning and professional lineages. It has also been located in Dumfriesshire and Aberdeenshire, where the name could be related to the early Highland Clan spawned from the Saxons of the Norsemen.

In the United States, Charleson was listed among the top 2,000 surnames in the 1990s. It is typically seen on the East Coast in major cities such as New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. The surname is found in other areas of the country as well, with concentrated populations especially around rural areas. It has also seen a notable presence around the Midwest and the West Coast.

The last name Charleson is largely seen today in both the U.S. and Canada, including parts of the British Isles and Scotland. Combined with other parts of the world, it is likely that thousands of individuals currently have the Charleson surname, carrying the legacy of this longstanding family name within their own heritage and ancestry.

Variations of the surname Charleson

Charleson is an English surname. Its variants include Charlson, Charlesson, Charlsson, Charsons, Chooleson, and Charloson. Variations in spelling may appear due to phonetic changes, errors in record-keeping, or regional dialect and pronunciation differences.

Though primarily an English surname, Charleson appears in other countries such as Scotland and the United States. It may also appear in forms not common to its place of origin. For example, some variations include Kaarleson, Kalleson, Chaseon, and Choleson.

The Charleson surname is an occupational name derived from an "arsoner" or one who worked with iron tools. This was a skilled position, and the name Charleson was used as a surname to distinguish those who held it. The name is thought to be derived from Old English elements "ceorl" meaning a freeman or peasant, and "sune" meaning son.

In Scotland, the Charleson surname was first found in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where the family was seated from very ancient times and held a family seat from the times of William the Conqueror. Members of this family name included James Charlesson who was on record in Scotland in 1699; and William Charyleson (1716-1787), a Scottish grammarian and critic who wrote a well-known grammar book on English usage.

The surname is also seen throughout the United States, as it was adopted by American settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Notable people with the surname include Cadwalael Charleson, a private in the Confederate army during the Civil War; and Dilda Charleson (1905-1985), an American entomologist and carcinologist.

In conclusion, the surname Charleson has many forms, variations in spelling, and related surnames which come from its English origins.

Famous people with the name Charleson

• Bill Charlap: jazz pianist.
• Charles Leclerc: Formula One driver.
• Molly Charleson: Australian actor.
• Cherie Charleson: Australian actress.
• Max Charleson: British actor.
• Kenn Charleson: American actor.
• Anne Charlson: English TV presenter.
• Anna Charleson: British singer.
• Patrick Charleson: British actor.
• Matthew Charleson: British actor.
• Esme Charleson: English writer.
• Jessica Charleson: British model.
• Harry Charleson: British actor.
• Laura Charleson: British actress.
• Camilla Charleson: British actress.
• John Charleson: British actor.
• Steve Charleson: Canadian actor.
• Dave Charleson: American comedian.
• Steve Charleson: American actor.
• David Charleson: American actor.

Other surnames

Charles