Surname Corson - Meaning and Origin

Corson: What does the surname Corson mean?

The surname Corson is of Scottish origin and it is believed to be derived from the personal name Curson or Carson. It is a patronymic surname, typically formed by the addition of a suffix to the father's name. The suffix "son" literally means "son of", and hence Corson can be interpreted as "son of Cor". The prefix "Cor" is speculative, but could originate from "carr", an early Scottish word for a rocky hill or "Ker", which is possibly a first name. Some sources also suggest it could be related to the Old Norse personal name Kori, making it "son of Kori". Surnames based on personal names were common in Scotland, serving to distinguish one individual from another in small communities. Such names also often indicated the bearer’s familial relationships or lineage. Therefore, the surname Corson can be seen to hold historical and familial significance. It is worth noting that interpretations of the surname's derivation may vary, due to factors such as regional dialects and changes in language over time.

Corson: Where does the name Corson come from?

The surname Corson is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is a patronymic derived from the personal name Corsane, which itself was derived from the Gaelic name "MacCoirstein". The Gaelic prefix of 'Mac' indicates 'son of', therefore the original bearer was identified as 'son of Coirstein’.

In Scotland, the name seems to be primarily associated with the region of Dumfriesshire. In Ireland, it is commonly found in county Monaghan. Over time, members of the Corson family emigrated to various countries. Today, the surname can be found in many English-speaking nations.

In the United States, the Corson surname was carried over by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 19th century and has been prevalent since then. States where it is fairly common today include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Notably, Corson's Inlet State Park in New Jersey is named after the family.

As with many surnames, the exact geographical distribution of Corson varies, and the name may be found in various forms, with derivations including Corston, Coarson, and Corrson.

Variations of the surname Corson

The surname Corson, primarily found in Scotland, has various related variants, spellings, and origins. Variations include Corsan, Corsane, and Corsen. There are also surnames that are believed to be of a similar ancestry such as Carsen, Carsan, Carson, Corsones, Corzoun, Carss, Carstens, Karsen, and Kerson.

Scottish surnames often come in Anglicized form, which could be another reason for the numerous versions of the surname. These surnames might have evolved due to migration, regional dialects, or even literacy levels (people spelled their name as it sounded). This means the surname Corson could have been spelled differently in different documents pertaining to the same person.

While not all these variants may share a common origin, most are considered to branch from the same ancestral tree. Of course, it's always possible that two unrelated families happened to adopt the same or similar surname independently.

As always, individual genealogical research and genetic testing are the best ways to confirm a relationship to the Corson family or its variations.

Famous people with the name Corson

• Sharon Corson: Sharon is a well-known Canadian actress who has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies.
• John Corson: An American economist and civil servant, John Corson was an administrator of the U.S. Social Security Administration.
• Curtis Corson: He is a former professional ice hockey player who played for the National Hockey League.
• Shelley Corson: A Scottish international lawn and indoor bowler.
• Bob Corson: A notable American footballer who played as a Center for the Washington Redskins.
• Bill Corson: Former professional ice hockey player who spent most of his career in the World Hockey Association.
• Richard W. Corson: Written the 'Stage Makeup' book which has been used as a resource in school's drama departments around the world.
• Yves Corson: A renowned French poet and author.
• Clarice Corson: An American botanist, known for her works on understanding the systematics and evolution of mosses.
• Stanley Norman Corson: A publisher and author of books 'Prince of Wales Tour: A Diary in India'; with some account of the visits of His Royal Highness to the courts of Greece, Egypt, Spain and Portugal, and 'Life of Charles Stewart Parnell'.

Other surnames