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

Allison, 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 Allison surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Allison in America

Allison is the 646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Allison surname appeared 52,701 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Allison.

We can also compare 2010 data for Allison 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 Allison

The surname Allison originated in Scotland and has its roots in the ancient Gaelic name Alasdair, a Scottish form of the name Alexander. The name Alasdair is derived from the Greek words "alexo" meaning to defend and "andros" meaning man, essentially translating to "defender of men".

In the 12th century, the name Allison emerged as an anglicized form of the Gaelic Alasdair. It was commonly found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in the regions of Argyll, the Hebrides, and the Northern Isles.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Allison can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, a series of financial records dating back to the late 13th century. In these rolls, the name is spelled "Alysaundre" and "Alisaundre".

During the 16th century, the name Allison began to appear in various Scottish historical records and documents. One notable example is Sir Archibald Allison, a Scottish nobleman and military commander who lived from 1537 to 1594. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was a trusted advisor to Mary, Queen of Scots.

In the 17th century, the name Allison gained prominence in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Allison, a Scottish minister and theologian who lived from 1635 to 1705. He was known for his staunch support of the Presbyterian Church and his opposition to the policies of King Charles II.

Another notable individual with the surname Allison was Thomas Allison, a Scottish poet and playwright who lived from 1658 to 1721. He was best known for his satirical works and his criticism of the political and religious establishment of his time.

In the 18th century, the Allison surname began to spread beyond Scotland, with many bearers of the name migrating to North America and other parts of the British Empire. One prominent figure from this period was Francis Allison, a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister who lived from 1705 to 1777. He was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions in colonial America, including the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).

As the Allison surname continued to spread, it gained recognition in various fields, including literature, science, and politics. One notable figure from the 19th century was Thomas Allison, a Scottish-American engineer and inventor who lived from 1804 to 1880. He is credited with inventing the first practical machine for manufacturing tin cans.

Overall, the surname Allison has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the cultural and linguistic heritage of Scotland. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic name Alasdair, and it has been carried by numerous notable individuals throughout the ages, from military commanders and poets to ministers and inventors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Allison

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

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

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

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