Acheson (surname)
| Pronunciation | /ˈætʃɪsən/ ATCH-iss-ən |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Anglo-Scottish, Norman |
| Meaning | Adam ("red earth") |
| Region of origin | England, Scotland, Ulster |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Atkinson, Aitchison, Aicheson, and Aitcheson, Adcock, Atcock |
| Frequency Comparisons | |
Acheson is a surname of Anglo-Scots origin with Norman antecedents. It derives from the pet name Atkin, which is a diminutive of Adam.
In Scotland the name is more usually rendered as Acheson, while it is more usually found rendered as Atkinson in England, where it is particularly common in the north. In Ireland the name is common only in Ulster and particularly in counties Antrim and Down. A different spelling emerged in Canada, as Atcheson. Some Atkinsons are descended from Planters, although the name was recorded in Ireland before that period.
Acheson is a variation of the name in Scotland and the Border region, having been originally spelled Atzinson (with the 'z' being pronounced as 'y', as in yet).