Anderson is a surname deriving from a patronymic meaning "son of Ander/Andrew" (itself derived from the Greek name "Andreas" (Ανδρεας), meaning "man," "brave," or "manly").
In Scotland, the name first appeared in records of the 14th century as "Fitz Andreu" (meaning son of Andrew), and developed in various forms by the Scottish Gaelic patronymic of "MacGhilleAndrais" which means "servant of St. Andrew". Variations of this name were MacAndrew, Gillanders and Anderson. The name soon migrated to other parts of Scotland due to the popularity of the name "Andrew" as associated with the Patron Saint of Scotland, and the largest grouping lies in the north-east of Scotland from the Mearns through Aberdeenshire, Banff, and Moray.
In England, the first recorded spelling of the family name is probably that of William Andreu, which was dated 1237, in the ancient charters of the county of Buckinghamshire, England, in the year 1237.
Anderson is the eighth most frequent surname in Scotland and 52nd most common in England. Retrieved 25 January 2014
In Sweden, the form Andersson is the most common surname along with Johansson.Efternamn, topp 100 – Statistics Sweden
In Norway and Denmark, the form Andersen is quite common, being the fifth most common surname in both countries.Statistics Norway Statistics Denmark The name is also found to a lesser extent in northern Germany, e.g. the German vocalist Lale Andersen (1905–1972).Lehrke, G.: Wie einst Lili Marleen—Das Leben der Lale Andersen, Henschel Verlag, 2002; . In German.
The Scandinavian forms Andersson and Andersen were often rendered as Anderson by immigrants to the English-speaking countries, whereby the latter form became one of the most common surnames in Anglophone North America. The name was the eleventh most common surname reported in the 1990 United States census, accounting for 0.3% of the population.United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 4 July 2008. It was the twelfth most common surname reported in the 2000 United States Census. Anderson is also one of the most popular surnames in Canada.CBC News In Depth: Common surnames
Other spelling variations include: Andison, Andersonne, Andersoun, Andirsoone, Andresoun, Androson, Andirston, Andresson, Andrewson, and Andresen.
People
A Aaron Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people A. C. Anderson (1909–1996), Canadian pharmacist and politician A. Paul Anderson (born 1961), American politician A. Scott Anderson (1904–1971), American politician A. T. Anderson (1868–1949), British army officer Aaron Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Abby Anderson (born 1997), American country music singer-songwriter Abdullah Anderson (born 1996), American football player Abraham Anderson (1829–1915), American businessman Abraham Archibald Anderson (1846–1940), American artist, rancher and philanthropist Adèle Anderson (born 1952), British actor Ada Anderson (1843–1913), 19th-century British athlete Adam Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Adelaide Anderson (1863–1936), British civil servant and labor activist Adna Anderson (1827–1889), Engineer-in-Chief of the Northern Pacific Railroad Adrienne Anderson (born before 1965), American songwriter Agnes Steedman Anderson (1843–1914), Scottish hydrotherapist and activist Ago Anderson (born 1972), Estonian actor Al Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Alan Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Albert Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Albin Garfield Anderson (1882–1971), American medical missionary Alby Anderson (1894–1980), Australian rules footballer Alden Anderson (1867–1944), American politician Aldon J. Anderson (1917–1996), American judge Alec Anderson (American football, born 1894) (1894–1953), American football player Alec Anderson (American football, born 1999) (born 1999), American football player Alejandro Anderson (born 1930), Argentine actor Alex Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Alexander Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Alexandria Anderson (born 1987), American sprinter Alf Anderson (1914–1985), American baseball player Alfa Anderson (1946–2024), American singer and educator Alfred Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Alfredo Anderson (born 1978), Panamanian association football player Algodt C. Anderson (1860–1949), 20th century American politician Alice Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Alida Anderson (born before 1984), American educator Alison Anderson (born 1958), Australian politician Allan Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Allen L. Anderson (1837–1910), American Civil War officer Ally Anderson (born 1994), Australian rules footballer Alun Anderson (born 1948), British writer Alyse Anderson (born 1995), American mixed martial arts fighter Alyssa Anderson (born 1990), American swimmer Amanda Anderson (born 1960), American academic Amber Anderson (born 1992), British film actor, singer and model Ambrosia Anderson (born 1984), American women's basketball player Amos Anderson (1878–1961), Finnish-Swedish politician and publisher Amy Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people André Anderson (American football, born 1988), American football player André Anderson (footballer) (born 1999), Brazilian-Italian footballer Andre Anderson (boxer) (1890–1926), American boxer Andre Anderson (gridiron football, born 1955) (born 1955), American gridiron football player (born 1955) Andrea Anderson (born 1977), American sprinter Andree Anderson (born 1936), American ice dancer Andrew Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Andy Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Angela Anderson (living), German artist and filmmaker Angelina Anderson (born 2001), American professional soccer player Angry Anderson (1947–2026), Australian rock singer Ann Anderson (politician) (born 1952), American educator and politician Ann Stewart Anderson (1935–2019), American artist Anna Anderson (1896–1984), impostor who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia Anne Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Anthony Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Anton Anderson (1892–1960), American engineer and politician Antonio Anderson (born 1985), American basketball player Antonio Anderson (American football) (born 1973), American football player and coach Aric Anderson (born 1965), American football player Arit Anderson (living), British garden designer Arn Anderson (born 1958), American professional wrestler, road agent and author Arnold Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Aron Anderson (born 1988), Swedish adventurer, motivational speaker and athlete Art Anderson (1936–2021), American football player Art Anderson (basketball) (1916–1983), American basketball player Arthur Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Atholl Anderson (born 1943), New Zealand archaeologist and anthropologist Audrey J. Anderson (born 1965), American attorney Audrey Marie Anderson (born 1975), American actress and model Augusta Anderson (1875–1951), Swedish actress Ava Anderson, Viscountess Waverley (1895–1974), English political and social hostess Avery Anderson (born 1997), Kansas, United States state politician Avery Anderson III (born 2000), American basketball player Avril Anderson (born 1953), English composer Axel Anderson (1929–2012), German actor
B Babs Anderson (living), Botswanan lawn bowler Barbara Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Barry Anderson (born 1954), American judge Barry Anderson (composer) (1935–1987), New Zealand-born composer, teacher and pioneer in electroacoustic music Beau Anderson (born 1982), Indigenous Australian darts player Beauford T. Anderson (1922–1996), United States Army Medal of Honor recipient Becky Anderson (born 1967), British journalist Belinda C. Anderson (born 1954), American academic administrator Ben Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Benedict Anderson (1936–2015), American social scientist and professor Benjamin Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bennie Anderson (born 1977), American football offensive guard Bernard Anderson (trumpeter) (1919–1997), American musician Bernhard Anderson (1916–2007), American theologian Bernie Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bert Anderson (politician) (living), American politician and business owner Bertram Anderson (c.1505–71), English politician, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Beth Andersen (born 1954), American singer and voice actress Beth Anderson (composer) (born 1950), American neo-romantic composer Betty Baxter Anderson (1908–1966), American author Betty Harvie Anderson, Baroness Skrimshire of Quarter (1913–1979), British Conservative Party politician Betty Lise Anderson (living), American electrical engineer, working in photonics Beverley Anderson (born 1938), American alpine skier Beverly Anderson (born 1943), American mathematician and academic Biddy Anderson (1874–1926), South African rugby union footballer and cricketer Bill Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Billy Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Björn Andersson, multiple people Black Jack Anderson (1900–1835), American pirate active in Australia Blair Anderson (born 1992), English footballer Blake Anderson (born 1984), American actor, comedian and producer Blake Anderson (American football) (born 1969), American football player and coach Bob Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bobby Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bobley Anderson (born 1992), Ivorian footballer Bonnie Anderson (Episcopalian) (living), President of the House of Deputies in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America Bonnie Anderson (singer) (born 1994), Australian musician Bonnie M. Anderson (born 1955), American journalist Brad Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bradford Anderson (born 1979), American actor Brady Anderson (born 1964), American baseball player Brady Anderson (footballer) (born 1975), Australian footballer Braeden Anderson (born 1992), Canadian basketball player and law student Brandon Anderson (American football) (born 1985), American football player Brandon Anderson (entrepreneur) Brent Anderson (disambiguation) multiple people Bret Anderson (born 1974), Canadian football player Brett Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Brian Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Britany Anderson (born 2001), Jamaican athletics competitor Brittny Anderson (living), Canadian politician Broncho Billy Anderson (1880–1971), American actor, writer, film director, and film producer Brooke Anderson (born 1978), American journalist, correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight" Brooke Anderson (actress) (born 1981), Australian actress Brooke D. Anderson (born 1964), American diplomat Bruce Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bryan Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Bryant Anderson (born 1970), American professional wrestler Bryce Anderson (born 2004), American football player Bubbles Anderson (1904–1943), American baseball player Bud Anderson (1922–2024), American aviator and flying ace Bud Anderson (baseball) (born 1956), American baseball player Burton Anderson (living), American writer on wine, food, and travel
C C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson (1907–1996), American aviator C. Anthony Anderson (born 1940), American philosopher and Professor of Philosophy C. Arnold Anderson (1907–1990), American sociologist and economist C. Arthur Anderson (1899–1977), American politician C. Elmer Anderson (1912–1998), American politician C. J. Anderson (born 1991), American football player C. W. Anderson (born 1971), American professional wrestler Cadillac Anderson (born 1964), American professional basketball player Cal Anderson (1948–1995), American politician Caleb J. Anderson (1910–1996), Swedish politician Calvin Anderson (born 1996), American football player