Surname Leson - Meaning and Origin
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Leson: What does the surname Leson mean?
The last name Leson originated as a French Huguenot surname, likely stemming from the ancestral name Leeson or Liveson. The Huguenots were French Protestants during the 16th century, who were persecuted by the Catholic Church for their Protestantism. Due to religious persecution, many of these Huguenots fled France and settled in other parts of Europe, where they kept their French surnames.
The Leson surname is believed to have been derived from the old French term ‘leeson’, which means ‘son of’, making it a patronymic last name. This indicates that the original bearer of the Leson surname was likely the son of someone with the first name Leeson or Liveson. This suggests that the original Leson family may have had French or Huguenot origins.
The Leson surname is now found scattered across the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The spelling of the surname has changed slightly over time, with variants spelling being noted as Leeson, Lesson and Layeson.
Overall, the Leson surname is associated with French Huguenot origins, likely stemming from the ancestral name Leeson or Liveson. The spelling of the surname has changed slightly over time and has spread across the world, with the Leson family still continued to be found today.
Order DNA origin analysisLeson: Where does the name Leson come from?
The last name Leson is primarily found in France, however, it is an uncommon surname. The name is derived from the Latin phrase "lessonis" which means "teacher", and it is thought to have been used as an occupational name. It is also found in parts of southern Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In France, the name Leson is found mainly in the northeastern region with a few other more scattered locations. Specifically, the name is most commonly seen in Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Aisne, Seine-Maritime, Ardennes, and Haute-Marne.
Those bearing the last name Leson in the United States are primarily of French origin. It is estimated that few individuals living in the US with the last name Leson emigrated prior to the twentieth century. Today, the last name Leson is more commonly found in France than the US, though there are still a few individuals with the name living in the US.
The geographic distribution of Leson makes it clear that the surname did not become common until the early- to mid-twentieth century. As such, it is not a very common name in the US today.
Variations of the surname Leson
The surname Leson is of British origin and is a spelling variation of the surname Lawson. It is thought to have several other spelling variations and other similar surnames, all of which evolved from the same original or ancestral root surname. While not always a definitive answer, the variations of this surname are quite common and may include Leson, Lason, Lesson, Leeson, Layson, Lazen, Lawsen and Lawson.
Variants of the Leson surname can be found in various regions including Scotland and England. Historically, the name likely derived from someone with the nickname ‘Laz’, as it is thought to have come from the Middle English words ‘Lazeson’ or ‘Lazyson’ which mean ‘son of Laz’. Alternatively, the name could come from the Old French word ‘Lai’, meaning oath, as in son of an oath, or perhaps the Old German’s word ‘Laidisein’, meaning a person of a distinct and different opinion.
Other surnames which could be related to Leson include Lassen, Lasoon, Lesonne, Lasson, Lassaine, Lesen, Lesson, Lessonz, Lezen, and Laijon. These could be alternate spellings or may represent distinct families who adopted similar surnames, as Leson itself is a fairly rare name.
The name itself is thought to have been first documented in early Scottish records in the 13th century, but many variations in the surname had been adopted by this time as well. As the name spread across the British Isles, it adopted many variant spellings and had been in use for centuries in those regions. Today, the name Leson is still found in some areas but remains relatively uncommon.
Famous people with the name Leson
- Allen Leson: Philanthropist and angel investor, renowned for his work in human rights and health care.
- Kenneth Leson: American painter and sculptor, famed for his abstract works.
- Adam Leson: Conservationist, working to reduce the effects of climate change worldwide.
- Richard Leson: American entrepreneur and video game designer, who is best known for creating the popular “Space Invaders” arcade game.
- Simon Leson: British musician and producer, who has written and produced music for artists such as David Bowie and Blur.
- Sarah Leson: Award-winning documentary filmmaker, specializing in social and wildlife documentaries.
- Harold Leson: Canadian actor who has starred in numerous films, including Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments.
- Edith Leson: Well-known American landscape painter, active in the mid-20th century.
- Murray Leson: Award-winning theatre director, who has directed shows in both the United States and Canada.
- Tom Leson: American engineer, who developed new technologies for controlling robotic systems.