Find out how popular the last name Acheson is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Acheson.

Acheson, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Acheson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acheson in America

Acheson is the 14405th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acheson surname appeared 2,075 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Acheson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acheson to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Acheson

The surname Acheson is of Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic name Achaisean, which translates to "son of Hugh" or "son of the younger son." The name was initially prevalent in the regions of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The roll includes the name "Aylmer de Achynsone," suggesting the name's connection to a specific location or landholding.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, variations of the name emerged, such as Achinsoun, Achinsoune, and Achinsone, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. The name's association with place names is evident in the village of Auchinsorn, which roughly translates to "the field of the people named Acheson."

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Acheson is Sir Archibald Acheson, 1st Baronet (1572-1634), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as the Secretary of State for Scotland. Another prominent individual was Sir Arthur Acheson, 1st Baronet (1688-1748), an Irish politician and landowner who played a significant role in the Irish Parliament.

In the 19th century, Dean Acheson (1893-1971), an American statesman and lawyer, rose to prominence as the 51st United States Secretary of State under President Harry S. Truman. His contributions during the critical post-World War II era left a lasting impact on American foreign policy.

Another noteworthy figure was Marcus Acheson (1825-1900), an American businessman and politician from Pennsylvania, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1877 to 1879.

The Acheson name has been carried through the centuries by various individuals, each leaving their mark in different fields, from politics and law to business and diplomacy. While the name's origins can be traced back to Scotland, its legacy has transcended borders and continues to be a part of diverse cultural histories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acheson

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Acheson.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Acheson was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Acheson has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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