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

Alderson, 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 Alderson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alderson in America

Alderson is the 5664th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alderson surname appeared 6,130 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Alderson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alderson 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 Alderson

The surname Alderson originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "eald" meaning old and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or came from an old town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Alderton." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with the village of Alderton in Yorkshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records with spellings such as "Aldirton," "Aldreton," and "Aldryngton." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable bearer of the Alderson name was William Alderson (c. 1555-1619), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Winwick in Lancashire. He was known for his writings on theological subjects and his involvement in the Church of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Sir Edward Hall Alderson (1787-1857), an English judge and Baron of the Court of Exchequer. He played a significant role in shaping English law and was highly respected for his legal expertise.

In the 19th century, the Alderson family established itself in the United States. One notable American bearing this name was Victor Chandler Alderson (1886-1949), a businessman and philanthropist who founded the Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia.

Additionally, Edward Eugene Alderson (1838-1914) was a prominent American educator and administrator who served as the president of the University of West Virginia (now West Virginia University) from 1897 to 1900.

The Alderson surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Alderson in North Yorkshire and Alderson in Cumbria. These locations likely derived their names from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

Overall, the Alderson surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of England. Its enduring presence is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of this name throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alderson

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

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 Alderson 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 Alderson 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 Alderson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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