Surname Dennison - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Threads of My Past: A Journey into the Origins of the Dennison Surname Through iGENEA DNA Analysis

Recently, I embarked on an exploration of my lineage using a DNA analysis service from iGENEA. The findings unveiled a captivating journey of my surname, Dennison, tracing it back to Scottish roots. The story of the ancient warrior clan embedded within my name and the fascinating historical practices that led to its formation were the highlights of this thrilling exploration.

V. Dennison

Dennison: What does the surname Dennison mean?

The surname Dennison is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the baptismal name Dennis, which in turn comes from the Greek name 'Dionysios', related to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. The suffix 'son' signifies 'son of', so Dennison can be understood to mean 'son of Dennis'. It is a patronymic surname, which are based on a male ancestor's name and were used to identify individuals in a region where the same personal names were commonly used. Like other patronymics, these names were originally used in regions where surnames were not yet common, so as to distinguish between individuals with the same common name. It is also quite widespread with variants observed in Scotland, Ireland, and Denmark. The spelling variations include Denisoun, Denison, Dennyson, and Dennistoun among others. As families migrated throughout Europe and later to North America, the name has been tweaked and anglicized over generations. Despite these changes over centuries, the original meaning of the name remains tied to its Greek roots.

Dennison: Where does the name Dennison come from?

The surname Dennison is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the medieval given name Dennis, which itself comes from the Greek name Dionysius, the god of vine and wine in Greek mythology. Dennison thus means 'son of Dennis'. This surname started appearing around the 12th and 13th centuries when surnames started to be used in Britain.

There are different variations of the surname, including Denison, Dennistoun, Denson, and Dennistown among others. Today, the surname Dennison is most commonly found in the United States, followed by England and Canada. Within the United States, it is especially prevalent in the states of Ohio, Texas, and California. In England, it's more common in the regions of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the East Midlands.

Variations of the surname Dennison

The surname Dennison is of English origin and believed to be patronymic, derived from the personal name Dennis, meaning "son of Dennis." Variations of the surname might include Denison, Denniston, Dennistoun, Dennyson, Denyson, Dennisson and Denneson.

The surname Dennis also bears relation, as do diminutives of this name, such as Dennet, Dennitt or Dennett. These names might have been transformed into surnames similarly, with the suffix "-son" added to indicate descent.

In some cases, the surname could also be locational, derived from Denison, a town in Iowa, United States, Denison, a suburb in Sydney, Australia or Dennistoun, a district in Glasgow, Scotland. In such cases, the surname would indicate that the original bearer hailed from these locations.

Spelling variations often occurred due to regional dialects, transcription errors, and phonetic spelling. The surname could also be anglicized in various forms if originally from a non-English speaking country. All these factors contribute to a wide range of possible variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Dennison.

Famous people with the name Dennison

• Michael Dennison: An award-winning costume designer for various Hollywood films.
• Richard Dennison: An American country singer, songwriter and brother of country singer Crystal Gayle.
• Sam Dennison: A prominent American author, renowned for her contributions in the literature world.
• Charles Dennison: A celebrated American inventor and engineer.
• Mackenzie Dennison: A British professional wrestler.
• Phillip Dennison: A prominent professor in remote sensing and forest ecology.
• Elsie Dennison: An Australian biologist and science educator.
• Blair Dennison: A famous ice hockey player.
• Tom Dennison: A political boss and gambler from Omaha, Nebraska.
• Jordan Dennison: A New Zealand actor, known for his roles in films like 'Deadpool 2'.
• Wayne Dennison: A South African rugby player.
• John Dennison: An English cricketer.
• Lyn Dennison: A British fantasy illustrator.
• Bob Dennison: A famous football player from British America.
• Frances Dennison: An American Broadway actress.
• Jack Dennison: An Australian politician.
• Tony Dennison: An American actor known for The Closer and Major Crimes.
• Sarah Dennison: A well-known British actress.
• Abby Dennison: An American soccer player.
• Neil Dennison: A Canadian footballer.

Other surnames

DennisDennisenDennissDennissonDennistoun