Surname Allison - Meaning and Origin

“Exploring Allison Lineage with iGENEA - An Emotional Voyage into Family Roots.”

Using iGENEA's DNA testing service, the author embarks on a personal journey to uncover the history, culture, and origins linked to the surname 'Allison'. The experience proves to be a rollercoaster of emotions, altering the perception of their lineage and identity.

H. Allison

Allison: What does the surname Allison mean?

The surname Allison is of early medieval English origin, and is a patronymic form of a given name. It means "son of Alice" or "son of Allan". It derives from the Middle English "Alis", itself a short form of any of various personal names like Alice, Alison, or Alexander, combined with "sone" or "son" indicating lineage. Allison was a quite popular personal name in the Middle Ages and has been used as a surname since the 14th Century. The surname spread across England and then to Scotland. Eventually it made its way to Ireland and North America, particularly the US and Canada, with English, Scottish, and Irish immigrants. It is now quite common globally due to the breadth of the British Empire. Despite its meaning, it is not just given to males. It is a unisex name, popularly given to both boys and girls.

Allison: Where does the name Allison come from?

The surname Allison is of English origin, specifically from northern England and Scotland. It is considered a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used to denote a person as the son of someone. "Allison" would therefore mean "son of Alice". The name 'Alice', from which 'Allison' is derived, comes from the Old French Adelais and is a diminutive of Adelaide.

Due to migration and expansion, the surname Allison is now found all over the world, but it's most common in English-speaking countries. In the United States, the surname Allison is most prevalent, according to census data, in the state of Texas. In England, the surname is found most frequently in the county of Yorkshire. In Scotland, Allison is most common in Lanarkshire. In addition, there are significant populations of people with the Allison surname in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Allison

The surname Allison is of English origin and is considered a variant of the well-known personal name "Alice". Some of the variations and other spellings of Allison include Allisson, Allinson, Allanson, Alyson, Alisoun, and Allyson. The surname often has a patronymic element, implying "son of Alice" or "son of Ellis."

This surname also took on several different forms in other languages. For example, in Scotland and northern England, it might be known as Allyson or Alison. In Scotland, the patronymic form "MacAlasdair" can also translate to Allison.

Other surnames that are considered variants of Allison due to shared roots or similar etymology include Ellison (son of Ellis) and Addison (son of Adam). Each of these surnames can also have their own spelling variations.

We should note that while Allison is primarily a surname, it is also popularly used as a female first name, often spelled as Alison or Alyson. The usage of Allison as a first name may also create various spellings and punctuations depending on culture, region, and individual preference.

Famous people with the name Allison

• Luther Allison: An American blues guitarist from the 1970s.
• Bobby Allison: A former professional NASCAR driver, inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.
• Davey Allison: Son of Bobby Allison, also a highly successful NASCAR driver.
• Dot Allison: Scottish singer and songwriter, part of the band One Dove.
• Richard Allison: An early Canadian composer and music professor.
• Fran Allison: A television and radio comedian, singer, and actress, remembered for the children's television show "Kukla, Fran and Ollie".
• Gary Allison: English football coach and former player.
• Graham Allison: A prominent American political scientist who developed the Concept of Nuclear Terrorism.
• Fran Allison: American television and radio comedian, singer, and actress.
• John Allison: Comics artist and writer, best known for his ‘Giant Days’ series.
• Karen Allison: Professional bridge player.
• Brooke Allison: American pop singer.
• Allison Parks: Model and actress, Playboy Playmate of the Year 1966.
• William B. Allison: Late 19th century: early 20th century U.S. senator.
• Allison Crowe: Canadian singer and songwriter.
• Allison Roe: New Zealand athlete.
• Allison Pottinger: American curler.
• Allison Janney: An accomplished American actress.
• Allison Mack: American actress, known for her role in Smallville.
• Allison Scagliotti: American actress known for her role in television series "Warehouse 13".
• Allison Williams: American actress, known for her role in Girls.

Other surnames

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