Surname Person - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
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In the quest to understand my ancestral roots, I undertook a DNA test with iGENEA. The results brought forth surprising insights about my ancestor named Person, radically changing my understanding of my lineage and, in turn, my self-perception.
K. Person
read morePerson: What does the surname Person mean?
The surname Person is believed to have a Nordic origin. Derived from the Old Norse name "Petr" or "Per", it means "rock". It was adopted as a surname by family members to identify themselves with a respected or well-known patriarch, which was often the case in Scandinavian cultures. Over time, it evolved to "Person" when descendant families migrated to English-speaking regions. The suffix 'son' is a patronymic indicator commonly used in Nordic countries, meaning 'son of'; thus, Person could be interpreted as 'Son of Per'. It should not be confused with the English word 'person' which comes from another origin. Moreover, the frequency and distribution of the surname have grown over time due to widespread Scandinavian emigration, particularly to places like the UK and the US. The variations in spelling and pronunciation also occurred due to cultural assimilation and regional dialects.
Order DNA origin analysisPerson: Where does the name Person come from?
The last name Person is most commonly found in Scandinavia. This is mainly due to the Scandinavian countries having extremely detailed record-keeping practices throughout their history, allowing us to trace names from the past centuries.
Person is an old northern-germanic surname. It's derived from "perso," which loosely translated into modern English means "a person." From here it was adapted into other languages and spellings, including Person, Pherson, and Persson.
In Sweden, Person is particularly popular, and is frequently found among the top 50 surnames. It has also been found frequently in Finland, Norway, and Denmark. In Norway, for example, it is the 19th most common surname, based on census records from 2019.
Person is also found among other Germanic countries, including Germany and Austria. However, it is much less common in non-Germanic countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.
The last name Person is deeply rooted in the history of Scandinavian countries, however today it can be found in many parts of the world where people have Swedish or Germanic heritage, as well as those who have adopted the name.
Variations of the surname Person
Person is a surname with many variants and spellings, which can be traced back to various countries and cultures. It is most commonly used in the English language. The alternate spellings and variants for Person include Persons, Persen, Persson, and Peerson.
In France, the familiar form of Person is Personne, and the occurences of the name found in documents dating back to the 12th century have been documented. The Netherlands also has the variant Piret, whilst Scandinavia has the variant Personne, Persen, and Peerson.
In Germany, the Person surname was derived from the patronymic surname Persig, which means 'son of Piers'. This name is recorded in books from the late 12th century in the area of what is now modern-day Germany.
In Scotland, the surname Person appears to have been an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname MacPharsein, which translates to 'son of Parsean'. This surname originated from the lowlands of Scotland, and can be found as far back as the 12th century.
The Welsh-origin variant Personne also exists, and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Welsh name Piersan, which was used in honor of Saint Peter.
From Ireland, the surname Person is of Norman origin, derived from the Old French 'persone'. This form of the surname is derived from the Latin 'persona', meaning 'individual'.
All these variants illustrate the diversity of the Person surname, which has spread all around the world throughout the centuries.
Famous people with the name Person
- Merton Hanks: former NFL football player and actor.
- Josh Person: a former NFL linebacker.
- Cristin Milioti: American actress, singer, and songwriter.
- Royce Reed: American reality TV personality.
- Liza Person: American author and illustrator.
- Houston Person: American jazz saxophonist.
- Diane Person: American actress.
- Rocky Person: American football coach.
- Brad Person: former American football linebacker.
- Howard Person: former NFL cornerback.
- Jay Person: former NFL wide receiver.
- Coby Person: former NFL safety.
- Dave Person: former NFL running back.
- Janna Person: actress, writer, and director.
- Eileen Person: singer/songwriter, composer, actress.
- Eunice Person: English writer and actress.
- Barbara Person: American actress.
- Akiva Person: Singer/Songwriter, Music Producer.
- Jackie Person: American author and illustrator.
- Stephanie Person: American author and illustrator.