The Adamson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 16,515 people carried this name — #2,205 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,900 people counted. That is up 3% from 16,080 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Adamson surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Adam + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Adamson» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Adam’.

An early record he cites: John fil. Adam, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls. Fil. is Latin for “son of”.

His entry covers Adam, Adames, Adams and Adamson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 39 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 9 births for the Adamson name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Armagh and Down.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 9

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Poland’s population register

20 people named Adamson have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 40 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 3 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lublin.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Lublin 11
Masovian 7
Lower Silesian 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In the Nordic population registers

110 people named Adamson are counted in Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 89
Finland (2026) 21

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Adamson was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Durham: 28 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 357. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Durham 28
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 10

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland, 1880s

Adamson was 12 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 833. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “South of the Forth and the Clyde.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 586 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Adamson was recorded 70 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 380th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 149. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Adamson in American newspapers,
1874.

Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Adamson
Daily Kennebec Journal 1874-05-20
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Adamson
Daily Kennebec Journal 1874-01-06
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Adamson
Daily Kennebec Journal 1874-01-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 106,342 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Adamson in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

85,633 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Adamson. The most, 20,682, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 35,416
Queensland 17,060
New South Wales 13,914
South Australia 12,097
Western Australia 4,958
Tasmania 1,499
ACT (Canberra) 531
Northern Territory 40

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Adamson.

Who carried it

People named Adamson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Adamson d. 1907 · politician
  • Percy Adamson d. 1969 · association football coach
  • Alexander Adamson d. 1866 · factory owner
  • Janet Adamson d. 1683
  • Effie Caldwell Adamson d. 1964
  • Dorcas Mary Hands d. 1953

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Adamson,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,782 records

1,782 records of the Adamson name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 483
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 409
  • Other U.S. records 890
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert J. Adamson

    Born 1920 in Utah. Enlisted 1941 at Fort Francis E Warren Cheyenne, Wyoming; office clerk. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colorado.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Ruben Adamson

    Born 1902 in South Carolina. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; mechanic. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1965, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jemma Adamson

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Britannic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 20; servant. From Dumfermline, England; bound for Colorado.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,782 records for Adamson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,628 records

1,628 records of the Adamson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 998
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 303
  • Other Australian records 327
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Adamson

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Chapman, sailing from London in 1826. Native of New Galloway, Kirkcudbrightshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1837.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Thomas Adamson

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1835. Married 1835 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Sarah Adamson

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the Royal Charter, aged 47; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,628 records for Adamson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada252 records

252 records of the Adamson name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 133
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 34
  • Other Canadian records 85
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Christian Adamson

    Came to Ontario in 1878 aboard the Prussian, bound for Rosseau, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Clare Adamson

    Killed in 1943 at the Dominion No. 2 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record David George Adamson

    Buried in 1990 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 61.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 252 records for Adamson in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom95 records

95 records of the Adamson name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 47
  • Stirling Council burial records 28
  • Other British records 20
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Alexander Stewart Adamson

    Born 1893 at Fortingall. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Janet Adamson

    Buried in 1914 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 70.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Robert Adamson

    Will proved in 1877; of Holyhead, Anglesea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 95 records for Adamson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand54 records

54 records of the Adamson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 26
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 18
  • Other New Zealand records 10
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Alexander Adamson

    Died 1958, aged 78; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Kevin Charles Adamson

    Died 2000, aged 46; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederick William Adamson

    Died 1945, aged 52; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 54 records for Adamson in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands29 records

29 records of the Adamson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 14
  • Dutch population registers 9
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Hendrina Adamson

    Died 1847 in Vlissingen, aged 82; of private means.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Charles Eugène Rubert Adamson

    Married in 1934 in Amsterdam; metalworker.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 29 records for Adamson in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Belgium4 records

4 records of the Adamson name in Belgium
  • Belgian population registers 2
  • Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Victor Michel Adamson

    In the population register of Aalst; mechanic, born 1832 in Ostende.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 4 records for Adamson in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France1 record

1 record of the Adamson name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record John Adamson

    Born 1923 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Urvillers (Aisne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Adamson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Adamson is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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