Surname Eunson - Meaning and Origin
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Eunson: What does the surname Eunson mean?
The last name Eunson is of Scottish origin originating from the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The earliest recorded record of the name dates back to 1275 when John Eyndisone was listed as a witness to the contract between Orkney and Berwick. The name Eunson or Eunisson likely originates from a place-name called Eyniese or Eynise, which is an old Norse term meaning ‘the young woman’s island’. The name is derived from the aith of the same name that was recorded in the historic 1609 rental roll of Orkney.
Generally, Eunson is a patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from the first name of the father of the original bearer. In this instance, the surname likely derived from the male name Eyni, which is a Norse personal name derived from ‘eye’ or ‘island’.
The surname Eunson is now commonly found in Scotland and in areas of northern England with Norse heritage. In the modern times, the surname has been carried throughout the world by emigrants, and can now be found in many countries. The most common spelling variations of the name are Eunson, Eunissen, Eunizon, Eynonson, Eunison, Eunissone, Eunzene, Eunzensen, Eaunson, Euninput, and Eyynson.
Order DNA origin analysisEunson: Where does the name Eunson come from?
The last name Eunson is today most common in Scotland, particularly the Shetland Islands and the Highlands, as well as Northern England. The history of the name dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old Norse personal name Einar or Einarr, which could have been used to denote either an eagle or a fighter.
Today, in Scotland, the usage of the name is nearly all concentrated in the Shetland Islands, with the surrounding mainland having fewer instances. It is most common in the areas around Zetland county, the most northerly of all Scottish mainland counties, and in the Mainland of Orkney, located to the north of Shetland.
Further south, in northern England, Eunson is most prevalent in counties such as Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire. For example, the towns of Ulverston in Cumbria, Ormskirk in Lancashire, and Ambleside and Kendal in Westmorland all have a strong concentration of the name.
It is believed that after the Norse invasion of Orkney and Shetland, some families moved south to the mainland or to England, taking their name with them. Eunson is a relatively rare name, meaning that today its most frequent use is still confined to its origin in the Shetland and Orkney Islands.
Variations of the surname Eunson
The surname Eunson is derived from the Old Norse which means 'son of Eun'. Variant spellings of Eunson include Eunsoun, Enson, Euncin, Euncein, Euncinson, Eunckin, Eunckins, Eunckinson, Eunsoun, and Eunsone.
Surnames that are derived from the same origin are Eunson, Euckson, Eunzson, Eunckson, Euncksen, Euncksan, Eunkelye, Copperthwaite, Euncelye, Eunceson, Eunslee, Eunsung, Eunthwaite, Neckleson, Upson, Uppson, and Yoxson.
The name Eunson is common in Scotland though some of its variant spellings are found in other countries. In Germany, Eunckson is a popular surname. The other variant surnames of Eunson are more commonly found in England, where they are mostly found in the northern regions, particularly in Northumberland.
It is not uncommon for the surname to be shortened to Upson or Eunyn. In some cases, individuals with the surname are known to have modified it phonetically to syncopate the spelling. One such example is Eunackin, which is a combination of Eunson and Eunckson.
The surname Eunson may be found as a given name in many English-speaking countries, although this is less common. In Scotland, the surname is sometimes found spelled as Euncelye or Eunckelie. In the United States, the surname is sometimes spelled Eunckson and variation. In other countries, the name is spelled Euncinsant.
Overall, the surname Eunson is found in many different countries and has many variant spellings. Although the origin is from the Old Norse, the surname has changed over time in the various countries where it is found.
Famous people with the name Eunson
- Ewan Eunson: an internationally renowned Scottish musician, composer and orchestrator
- Chris Eunson: a retired American professional basketball player
- Bruce Eunson: a Scottish journalist, columnist and author
- Duncan Eunson: an English folklorist, student of local history, artist and musician
- Alex Eunson: a British actor, presenter and voice-over artist
- Kit Eunson: a British sculptor and installation artist
- Alison Eunson: a Scottish folk singer, composer and producer
- Jack Eunson: an English footballer who plays as a central midfielder
- Berne Eunson: an artist and singer/songwriter from Scotland
- Victor Eunson: a British visual effects supervisor