Anson – Name Meaning
Anson is a masculine given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English personal name Ansun, which was composed of the elements an, meaning “one” or “alone” and sunu, meaning “son”. The name Anson has been in use since at least the 12th century.
Origin and History
The earliest recorded use of the name Anson dates back to 1185 when it was used as a surname in England. The first recorded use of the name as a given name was in 1590 when it was given to a son of William Shakespeare. Since then, the name has been used throughout Europe and North America.
Anson is also a popular surname in many countries including England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. In some cases, it is derived from the given name Anson but in other cases it may be derived from other sources such as patronymic surnames or place names.
Popularity
Anson is not a particularly common name in the United States today. According to Social Security Administration data from 2019, it ranked #1,845 out of 4,275 for boys’ names. However, it has seen some recent popularity due to its association with celebrities such as actor Anson Mount and musician Anson Funderburgh.
Famous People Named Anson
Some famous people named Anson include:
- Anson Mount (born 1973), American actor
- Anson Funderburgh (born 1956), American blues musician
- Anson Williams (born 1949), American actor and director
- Anson Carter (born 1974), Canadian ice hockey player
- Anson Dorrance (born 1951), American soccer coach