Surname Edison - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Edison: What does the surname Edison mean?
The surname Edison is of English origin and it is a patronymic name derived from the medieval personal name "Eadie," which itself is a diminutive of "Adam." The suffix "-son" denotes "son of," so Edison essentially means "son of Eadie or Adam." While the surname is widespread, it is most famously associated with renowned American inventor Thomas Alva Edison, whose significant innovations include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the practical electric light bulb. Interestingly, in the later part of the 19th century and the early 20th century, the name Edison became synonymous with innovation and invention, largely due to Thomas Edison's success. Despite its English origin and notable American history, the surname Edison is now found in many parts of the world, carried by individuals and families with no direct connection to the illustrious inventor. The name Edison communicates a sense of ingenuity, tenacity, and a mind for progress, largely due to its historical associations.
Order DNA origin analysisEdison: Where does the name Edison come from?
The surname Edison is of English origin. It originated as a patronymic name, meaning 'son of Edward', with Edie or Eddie being the diminutive form of Edward, and the suffix -son denoting 'son of'. It can be traced back to medieval England.
Thomas Edison, the famous American inventor, is one of the most recognizable bearers of this surname which has greatly contributed to its popularity. However, despite this enhanced visibility, the surname Edison is not particularly common anywhere in the world today. It's spread across many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, but it's not among the most commonly used surnames in these countries. Nonetheless, numerically it is most common in the United States, perhaps notably so because of the historical connection to Thomas Edison.
It's important to note that the distribution of a surname doesn't necessarily align strictly with current populations and may reflect historical migration patterns.
Variations of the surname Edison
The surname Edison, most famously carried by American inventor Thomas Edison, is believed to be of English origin. It signifies 'son of Edie' or 'son of Ede', a diminutive form of given names like Edward, Edwin, or Edmund. As a patronymic surname, it evolved with numerous spelling variations over the centuries, depending on the region, language, and individual variations.
Some common spellings of Edison might include Edeson, Eddison, Eddie, Edeson, and Edis.
Another derivative of Edison is the surname Edenson. Similar patronymic surnames include Edkins (son of Edkin) or Edelen (son of Ede).
In case of using prefixes or suffixes, variations like MacEdison or O'Edison can be found in the UK and Ireland, respectively. This kind of variant is however not as common.
It should be noted that surnames are deeply rooted within cultural, regional, and historical contexts. Therefore, ‘true’ variants can be hard to identify without specific genealogical research. It is always best to trace back the history of a specific Edison lineage to learn about possible variations and related surnames.
Famous people with the name Edison
- Thomas Edison: Renowned American inventor and businessman, known for developing many important devices such as the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera.
- Charles Edison: Son of Thomas Edison, he served as the Governor of New Jersey and Secretary of the Navy.
- Theodore Miller Edison: Another son of Thomas Edison, Theodore was an inventor, environmentalist, and philanthropist. He held over 80 patents.
- Mary Stilwell Edison: First wife of Thomas Edison, she was the mother of Thomas Jr. and William Leslie Edison.
- Mina Miller Edison: Second wife of Thomas Edison, she was a philanthropist and advocate for persons with disabilities.
- Marion Estelle Edison: Daughter of Thomas Edison, also known as "Dot", she was a suffragette and philanthropist.
- Madeleine Edison: Daughter of Thomas Edison, she was a film actress.
- Thomas Alva Edison Jr.: Son of Thomas Edison, he was known for his business ventures, including advertising and selling a variety of products.
- William Leslie Edison: Younger brother of Thomas Alva Edison Jr., he served in the U.S. Navy during the Spanish–American War.
- Spencer Trask Edison: Grandson of Thomas Edison, and son of Charles Edison.
- John Edison: A Canadian settler, and great-grandfather of Thomas Edison.