Davidson
/ˈdeɪvɪdsən/noun
A surname originally meaning the son or descendant of someone named David.
Did you know?Davidson developed as a patronymic surname, especially in Scotland, where family names could function as declarations of lineage, clan identity, and inherited status.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
דָּוִד (Dāwīḏ)
“The personal name David; its precise original meaning is uncertain, though it is traditionally connected with “beloved.””
4th Century BCE–1st Century CE
Greek
Δαυίδ (Dauid)
“The Greek form of the biblical personal name David.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
David
“The Latin biblical name, transmitted through Christian scripture and tradition.”
Medieval England and Scotland
English/Scots
David
“A common personal name used in Christian communities.”
13th–14th Century
Middle English/Scots
Davidson
“A hereditary or descriptive patronymic meaning “David’s son.””
Modern English
English
Davidson
“A family surname inherited from an ancestor named David.”
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