Find out how popular the first name Henderson has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Henderson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Henderson is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 45 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Henderson.

The history of the first name Henderson

The given name Henderson has its origins in the medieval English language and culture. It is a patronymic name, meaning that it was derived from the name of an ancestor, in this case the Old English personal name Hendric. This name is a compound of two elements: "hend" meaning "courteous, gentle, aristocratic" and "ric" meaning "ruler, power, or authority."

The earliest recorded use of the name Henderson can be traced back to the 13th century in England. It was initially a surname, but over time, it also became used as a given name. One of the earliest known individuals with the name Henderson was Sir Henderson de Fortibus, a Norman knight who lived in the late 12th century.

In the religious realm, the name Henderson is not particularly associated with any specific religious texts or scriptures. However, there have been notable individuals with this name who have made contributions to various religious movements and institutions throughout history.

One such individual was Henderson Rainey (1886-1972), an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist who played a significant role in the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery, Alabama, during the 1950s. Another notable figure was Henderson Belk (1874-1957), an American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the Methodist Church in North Carolina.

In the realm of literature, Henderson the Rain King, a novel by Saul Bellow published in 1959, is a well-known work featuring a protagonist with the name Henderson. The book explores themes of identity, existentialism, and the search for meaning in life.

Throughout history, there have been several other notable individuals who have borne the name Henderson. These include:

1. Henderson Forsythe (1917-2006), an American film and television actor best known for his roles in classic Hollywood movies like The Man Who Came to Dinner and Yankee Doodle Dandy.

2. Henderson Alvarez (born 1990), a professional baseball pitcher from Venezuela who has played for teams like the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies.

3. Henderson Doherty (1836-1919), an Irish-American civil engineer who designed and constructed several notable bridges and viaducts in the late 19th century, including the Kinzua Viaduct in Pennsylvania.

4. Henderson Luelling (1809-1878), an American nurseryman and pioneer who is credited with helping to establish the fruit industry in the Pacific Northwest by bringing thousands of fruit trees and plants across the Oregon Trail.

5. Henderson Nugteren (1923-2017), a Dutch architect and urban planner who was influential in the reconstruction and development of Rotterdam after World War II.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Henderson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Henderson, please contact us.

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