The Davison surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 22,276 people carried this name — #1,617 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,200 people counted. That is up 3% from 21,627 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Davison surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From David + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Davison» (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 David’.

An early record he cites: Richard Davi, Suffolk, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Davie, Davies, Davis, Davison and Davy.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 232 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 45 births for the Davison name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 2,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. One of them was indexed under another spelling of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim.”

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 42
Leinster 3

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

In Argentina’s national register

At least 74 people named Davison live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in City of Buenos Aires.

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

Where they live today

City of Buenos Aires 38
Buenos Aires Province 36

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 49 people named Davison.

16 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often Guadeloupe.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 16
Guadeloupe 30
Oise 1
Pas-de-Calais 1
Hauts-de-Seine 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

21 people named Davison live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

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

Where they live today

Zurich 8
Vaud 6
Valais 4
Geneva 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

24 people named Davison is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 24

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).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Davison was found among the farmers of 5 counties.

It was most frequent in Cumberland and Westmorland: 70 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 143. 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. His list gives one count for the spellings Davidson and Davison.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cumberland and Westmorland 70
Northumberland 70
Durham 48
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 15
Sussex 14

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’s registers today

Davison was recorded 23 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1041st most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 12. 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

Davison in American newspapers,
1893–1917.

Newspaper page from The New South carrying the name Davison
The New South 1893-09-09
Newspaper page from The Circle Banner carrying the name Davison
The Circle Banner 1916-10-20
Newspaper page from The Butte Daily Post carrying the name Davison
The Butte Daily Post 1917-11-03

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 184,975 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Davison in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

56,652 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Davison. The most, 7,098, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 22,006
South Australia 12,750
Victoria 11,421
Queensland 4,710
Western Australia 3,361
Tasmania 2,180
ACT (Canberra) 172
Northern Territory 8

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

Who carried it

People named Davison,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Jack Davison d. 1971 · screenwriter
  • George Davison d. 1799 · businessperson
  • Guy Middleton Davison d. 1918
  • Mary Davison d. 1909
  • Adelaide Churchill Spencer d. 1935
  • Richard Davison d. 1959

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

In the public record

People named Davison,
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 States2,820 records

2,820 records of the Davison name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 730
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 721
  • Other U.S. records 1,369
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John M. Davison

    Born 1919 in Missouri. Enlisted 1944 at Jefferson Barracks; driver from Greene County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1990, buried at Springfield National Cemetery, Missouri.

    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 Howard B. Davison

    Born 1921 in Ohio. Enlisted 1942 at Cleveland; driver from Lorain County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington, Ohio.

    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 Martha Davison

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the City of Rome from Moville, aged 39; servant. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for New Jersey.

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

Showing 3 of 2,820 records for Davison in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (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).

Australia1,231 records

1,231 records of the Davison name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 557
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 229
  • Other Australian records 445
  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 Davison

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Isabella, sailing from Woolwich in 1842. Native of London, Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. 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 Elizabeth Davison

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the New Grove, sailing from London in 1834. Native of Stanhope, Durham. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1837.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Davison

    Died 1859 in Horton, Tasmania, aged 42. Will registered in Tasmania in 1859.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,231 records for Davison 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) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada1,121 records

1,121 records of the Davison name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 1,009
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 30
  • Other Canadian records 82
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Davison

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Halifax, bound for Berrie, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Davison

    Buried in 1911 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 89.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Annie Johannah Davison

    Died 1935 in West Hants, Hants, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 1,121 records for Davison 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 Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands121 records

121 records of the Davison name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 63
  • Dutch population registers 55
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Maria Davison

    Married in 1868 in Delfshaven. Died 1917 in Rotterdam, aged 76.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joannes Hubertus Davison

    Born 1860 in Maastricht. Died 1861 in Maastricht.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elizabeth Davison

    Married in 1861 in Delfshaven. Died 1907 in Rotterdam, aged 68.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 121 records for Davison in the Netherlands.

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

United Kingdom100 records

100 records of the Davison name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 81
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 14
  • Other British records 5
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record William Hope Davison

    Born 1884 at Portobello. Killed or died by 1920. Named in the roll of honour of 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 Alice Davison

    Buried in 1940 at Kilmadock Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 71.

    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 Margaret Davison

    Will proved in 1927; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 100 records for Davison in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). 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 Zealand50 records

50 records of the Davison name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 45
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  • Timaru and Mackenzie District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Edgar Davison

    Died 1976, aged 82; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 Margaret Davison

    Buried in 1969 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 75.

    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 Jane Davison

    Died 1914, aged 72; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 50 records for Davison 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). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France7 records

7 records of the Davison 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 Marie Anicette Davison

    Born 1914 in Baillif; died 1989 in Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Stephen Davison

    Born 1924 in Great Britain; died 1998 in Sète (Hérault).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Davison in France.

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).

Belgium2 records

2 records of the Davison name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anna Davison

    Died 1880 in Kortijk.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Kortrijk (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Davison in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Davison.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Davison.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Davison 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.

See the Davison volume
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