Peterson (surname)
| Pronunciation | /ˈpiːtərsən/ PEE-tər-sən |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Nordic, English |
| Meaning | "son of Peter" |
| Region of origin | Swedish/Danish/English |
| Other names | |
| Variant forms | Pederson, Petersen, Pettersson, Pieterszoon |
Peterson/Petersen[1] is a Scandinavian and English [2] patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter." The given name Peter is derived from the Greek πέτρος (petros), meaning "rock" or "stone," and has been a popular name choice throughout history due to the Christian apostle Peter. The surname is most commonly found in European countries such as UK[3], Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Brussels in the northwestern region.[4] There are an estimated 700 variant spellings of the surname.[5] The form Peterson may also have arisen from Danish Pedersen or Petersen with a change of spelling commonly applied by Danish immigrants to English-speaking countries. On another note, the surname Peterson is native to Sweden; therefore, Peterson is the correct spelling from that country.
People
[edit]A
[edit]- Adrian Peterson (born 1985), American football running back
- Adrian Peterson (American football, born 1979), American football running back
- Alexis Peterson (born 1995), American/German basketball player
- Amanda Peterson (1971–2015), American actress
- Andrew Peterson (disambiguation)
- Ann Peterson (born 1947), American Olympic diver
- Arthur Peterson (disambiguation)
- Austin Peterson (baseball) (born 1999), American baseball player
- Austin Peterson (screenwriter) (1906-2015), American screenwriter
B
[edit]C
[edit]- Carla Peterson (actress) (born 1974), Argentinian actress
- Cassandra Peterson (born 1951), American actress best known for her screen persona "Elvira"
- Charles Peterson (disambiguation)
- Christine Peterson, American forecaster
- Clark Peterson,(born 1966), film producer
- Chip Peterson, (born 1987), American swimmer
- Collin Peterson (born 1944), American politician
- Coyote Peterson (born 1981) American YouTuber and television show host
D
[edit]- Daniel Peterson (disambiguation)
- Darryn Peterson (born 2007), American basketball player
- David Peterson (disambiguation)
- Daystar Peterson (born 1992), stage name Tory Lanez, Canadian rapper and singer
- Denis Peterson, American painter
- Donald H. Peterson (1933–2018), American former astronaut
- Donna C. Peterson (born 1946), American politician and educator
- Dorothy Peterson (1897–1979), American actress
- Douglas Peterson (disambiguation)
- Drew Peterson (born 1954), American former Illinois police sergeant and convicted murderer
- Dustin Peterson (born 1994), American baseball player
- Dutton Peterson (1894–1964), American clergyman and politician
E
[edit]- Elly M. Peterson (1914–2008) American politician
- Elmer Peterson, American farmer and politician
- Elmer Peter Peterson (1904–1979), American electrician and politician
- Eric Peterson (born 1946), Canadian actor
- Eric Peterson (musician) (born 1964), American guitarist
- Erik Peterson (theologian) (1890–1960), German theologian
- Esther Peterson (1906–1997), American Assistant Secretary of Labor
- Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018), American Presbyterian minister, scholar, theologian, author, and poet
F
[edit]- Fiona Peterson, Australian academic
- Frank Peterson (born 1963), German music producer
- Franklin P. Peterson (1930–2000), American mathematician
- Frederick Peterson (disambiguation)
- Fritz Peterson (1942–2023), American baseball player
G
[edit]- Garry Peterson (born 1945), American drummer
- G. P. "Bud" Peterson (born 1952), president of the Georgia Institute of Technology
- Gil Peterson (born 1936), American actor and singer
- Gilbert Peterson (1824–1890), American contractor
- Gilles Peterson (born 1964), English DJ
- Gordon Peterson, American broadcast journalist
H
[edit]- Halvor H. Peterson (1831–1917), American farmer and politician
- Hannah Mary Bouvier Peterson (1811–1870), American writer
- Hattie Peterson (1930–2017), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Henry Peterson (author) (1818–1891), American editor, novelist, playwright and poet
- Henry K. Peterson (1884–1966), justice of the Iowa Supreme Court
I
[edit]- Ivan Peterson (1917–1967), American veterinarian and animal researcher who has worked with pet actors in Hollywood
J
[edit]- Jace Peterson (born 1990), American baseball player
- Jens Peterson (1880–1953), Australian politician
- Jeret Peterson (1981–2011), American aerial skier
- Jerome Peterson (disambiguation)
- Jesse Peterson (1850–1921), American industrialist
- Jim Peterson (1941–2024), Canadian politician
- John Peterson (disambiguation)
- Jordan Peterson (born 1962), Canadian psychologist, political pundit and author
- Jordan Peterson (American football) (born 1987), American football coach
K
[edit]- Keith Peterson (born 1956), Canadian politician
- Kevin Peterson (born 1994), American football player
- Kristjan Jaak Peterson (1801–1822), Estonian poet
- Kyle Peterson (born 1976), American baseball player
- Kyle Peterson (politician) (born 1971), Canadian politician
L
[edit]- Laci Peterson (1975–2002), American murdered by husband Scott Peterson
- Lenka Peterson (1925–2021), American actress
- Lenette Peterson, American politician
- Liza Jessie Peterson, American playwright, actor, activist and educator
- Lynn Peterson (American politician), American politician
- Lynn Peterson (Canadian politician), Canadian mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario
M
[edit]- Maggie Peterson (1941–2022), American actress
- Mark Peterson (disambiguation)
- Martha Peterson (born 1945), American former Central Intelligence Agency operations officer
- Martha Peterson (academic administrator) (1916–2006), American college president
- Maurice Peterson (1889–1952), British diplomat
- Michael Peterson (disambiguation)
- Minnie Peterson (1897–1989), American pioneer, packer, guide and outfitter
- Morris Peterson (born 1977), American basketball player
N
[edit]- Norm Peterson (politician) (born 1939), Australian politician
O
[edit]- Olive Peterson (1894–1965), American bridge player
- Oscar Peterson (1925–2007), Canadian jazz pianist and composer
- Oscar V. Peterson (1899–1942), United States Navy chief petty officer posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
- Oscar W. Peterson (1887–1951), American carver of fish decoys
P
[edit]- Patrick Peterson (born 1990), American football player
- Peter Peterson (disambiguation)
R
[edit]- Ralph Peterson Jr. (1962–2021), American jazz drummer and bandleader
- Randolph W. Peterson (born 1953), American politician and judge
- Ray Peterson (1939–2005), American pop singer
- Rebecca Peterson (born 1995), Swedish tennis player
- Robert Evans Peterson (1812–1894), American book publisher and writer
- Robin Peterson (born 1979), South African cricketer
- Roger Peterson (disambiguation)
- Ronnie Peterson (1944–1978), Swedish racing driver
- Russell W. Peterson (1916–2011), American engineer and politician, governor of Delaware
S
[edit]- Scot Peterson (born 1963), American deputy sheriff acquitted of charges for his actions during the 2018 Parkland high school shooting
- Scott Peterson (disambiguation)
- Shelley Peterson (born 1952), Canadian actress
- Stephen Peterson (rower) (born 1963), American rower in the 1990 and 1996 Olympics
- Steve Peterson (disambiguation)
- Steven Peterson (born 1990), American former mixed martial artist
T
[edit]- Ted Peterson (writer), writer and video game designer
- Thage G. Peterson (1933), Swedish politician
- Thomas Mundy Peterson (1824–1904), first African-American to vote in an election
- Thorleif T. Peterson (1885–1982), American farmer and politician
- Todd Peterson (place kicker) (born 1970), American football player
- Trudy Huskamp Peterson (born 1945), American historian, former acting Archivist of the United States
V
[edit]- Vadal Peterson (1892–1976), American college sports coach
- Val Peterson (1903–1983), American politician, governor of Nebraska
- Vicki Peterson (born 1958), American pop musician
W
[edit]- Walter R. Peterson, Jr. (1922–2011), American politician, governor of New Hampshire
- W. Wesley Peterson (1924–2009), American mathematician and computer scientist
- William Peterson (disambiguation)
Fictional characters
[edit]- Albert Peterson, in the Broadway musical and film Bye Bye Birdie, portrayed by Dick Van Dyke
- Carl and Irma Peterson, enemies of Bulldog Drummond, a gentleman adventurer
- Cora Peterson, in Fantastic Voyage, a 1966 science fiction film
- Chris Peterson, the main character from the American TV sitcom Get a Life (1990–1992)
- Fred and Gladys Peterson, from the American TV sitcom Get a Life (1990–1992)
- Lindsay Peterson, in the television series Queer as Folk
- Minty Peterson, in the soap opera EastEnders
- Norm Peterson, on the American sitcom television series Cheers
- Penny, Patty, and Paul Peterson, in the 2014 animated film Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- Ray Peterson, in the film The 'Burbs, portrayed by Tom Hanks
- Sloane Peterson, in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, portrayed by Mia Sara
- Stinky Peterson, on the animated television series Hey Arnold!
- Theodore Peterson, in the game Hello Neighbor
References
[edit]- ↑ Petersen, Zack (2022-04-13). "Zack Petersen". Authors group. doi:10.1287/6db7fa91-e63b-4c60-99d3-cd42daffb892. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ↑ "Liz Peterson – Shetland Islands Council". www.shetland.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "Rick Peterson - Academic Staff". www.lancashire.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ "The Last Name Peterson, Its Meaning and Origin". thoughtco.com. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ↑ "Surname: Peterson". surnamedb.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2008-02-11.