Nelson (surname)
It is derived from a patronymic name created from the given name "Nell," or for the Irish, "Niall". The name is also listed as a baptismal name "the son of Eleanor" from the nickname "Nell".[1][2] "Nel" or "Neal" were mediaeval personal names, being Anglo-Scandinavian (North Germanic) forms of the Gaelic name Niall. The Scandinavians adopted and modified the name to "Njal" and it was they who brought the name to northern England and East Anglia.[3]
Nelson is a surname, also used as a given name.
Nelson is also an Americanized version of the Scandinavian names Nilsen, Nielsen, and Nilsson.[3] Within the United States, it is ranked as the 39th-most common surname of 88799 listed.[4]
Notable persons named Nelson
A
- Adam Nelson, American shotputter
- Al Nelson, American football cornerback
- Alberta Nelson, American television actress
- Alexander Nelson, British sprint athlete
- Alice Dunbar Nelson, American poet, journalist and political activist
- Allison Nelson, mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
- Andrew Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ann Nelson (1958–2019), particle physicist
- Anthony Nelson (disambiguation)
- Antonya Nelson, American author
- Arthur E. Nelson, American politician
- Aven Nelson, American botanist
- Azumah Nelson, boxer
B
- Baby Face Nelson, best-known alias of American bank robber Lester Joseph Gillis (1908–1934)
- Barry Nelson, American actor
- Barry Nelson (rugby league)
- Ben Nelson, US senator
- Benjamin Nelson, American sociologist
- Bill Nelson (disambiguation)
- Billy Bass Nelson (born 1951), US musician, member of the P-funk all stars
- Bobbie Nelson, country and jazz pianist, sister of Willie Nelson
- Bobby Nelson former professional wrestler and businessman
- Brad Nelson, Major League Baseball player
- Brendan Nelson (born 1958), Australian member for Bradfield and former Leader of the Opposition
- Brian Nelson (disambiguation)
- Brooklyn Nelson (born 2004), American actress
- Bruce Nelson (disambiguation)
- Buck Nelson, American farmer who claimed to have encountered a UFO and its crew
- Byron Nelson, American PGA Tour golfer
C
- Carey Nelson, long-distance runner
- Charles Gregory Nelson (computer scientist)
- Charles P. Nelson (1877–1935), US admiral
- Cindy Nelson, American alpine ski racer
- Clara Nelson, married name of Clarissa Haili (1901–1979), better known as Hilo Hattie, Hawaiian entertainer
- Cody Nelson (born 1988), Australian rugby league player
- Colette Nelson (born 1974), IFBB American professional bodybuilder
- Colleen Nelson, Australian cancer research scientist
- Conrad Nelson, British actor, composer and director
- Corey Nelson, American football linebacker
- Craig T. Nelson, American actor
D
- Dan Nelson (born 1976), American singer-songwriter
- Daniel Nelson, founder of Nelsonville, Ohio (1817)
- Daniel Nelson (Swedish composer) (born 1965)
- Darrin Nelson, American football player
- Dave Nelson, Major League Baseball player
- David Nelson (disambiguation), including people named Dave Nelson
- Diane Nelson (comics), President of DC Entertainment
- Don Nelson, National Basketball Association head coach
- Donnie Nelson, general manager
E
- Earle Nelson (1897–1928), American serial killer
- Ed Nelson (1928–2014), American actor
- Edmund Nelson (American football) (born 1960), American football player and television commentator
- Edmund Nelson (priest) (1722–1802), father of Horatio Nelson
- Edward Nelson (1932–2014), American mathematics professor
- Edward Nelson (Alamo defender), Texian soldier
- Edward Nelson (marine biologist) (1883–1923), British invertebrate zoologist and polar explorer
- Edward William Nelson (1855–1934), American naturalist and ethnologist
- Erven T. Nelson (born 1956), American lawyer and politician.
- Esther Nelson (1810–1843), Manx poet
F
- Francis Nelson (disambiguation)
- Frank Nelson (disambiguation)
- Franklin Nelson, American figure skater
- Frederick Nelson, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering
G
- Gail S. Nelson, American mathematician
- Gary Nelson (disambiguation)
- Garry Nelson (born 1961), English footballer
- Gaylord Nelson (1916–2005), American Democratic politician
- Gene Nelson (1920–1996), American dancer, actor, screenwriter, and director
- Gene Nelson (baseball) (born 1960), American baseball player
- George Nelson (astronaut) (born 1950), American astronaut
- George Nelson (designer) (1908–1986), American designer
- George Nelson, 1st Baron Nelson of Stafford (1887–1962)
- Graham Nelson (born 1968), British mathematician and poet
- Gunnar Nelson (fighter) (born 1988), Icelandic martial artist and professional fighter
- Gunnar Nelson (musician) (born 1967), American musician, singer, and songwriter
- Guy Nelson (1900–1969), English cricketer
H
- Harold E. H. Nelson (1871–1948), English illustrator
- Harold George Nelson, Australian politician
- Harold "H" Nelson, English cycling coach
- Harriet Nelson, American singer and actress
- Harris Nelson (1835–1883), Australian businessman and politician
- Haywood Nelson, American actor
- Henry Nelson, 2nd Baron Nelson of Stafford
- Henry Addison Nelson (1820–1906), Presbyterian clergyman
- Henry C. Nelson (1836–1909), New York politician
- Holly Nelson, Canadian writer, poet, activist
- Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (1758–1805), British vice-admiral
- Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson (1823–1913), British politician
- Howard Nelson (disambiguation)
- Hugh Nelson (disambiguation)
I
- Ira Schreiber Nelson (1912–1965), American botanist
J
- Jameer Nelson, American professional basketball player
- James Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jane Nelson, Texas Senate member
- Jeff Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jeremiah Nelson, Massachusetts Representative
- Jerry Nelson, Muppet puppeteer
- Jesy Nelson, member of the British girl group Little Mix
- Jez Nelson, jazz broadcaster and television producer
- Jill Nelson, American journalist and novelist.
- Jimmy Nelson (disambiguation)
- J. J. Nelson, American football wide receiver
- Joe Nelson, relief pitcher in Major League Baseball
- John Nelson (disambiguation)
- Johnny Nelson, world champion boxer
- Jordy Nelson, American professional football player
- Joseph S. Nelson, American/Canadian ichthyologist
- Juanita Morrow Nelson, American activist and war tax resister
- Judd Nelson, American actor
- Judy Nelson, ex-partner of Martina Navratilova
- Julie Nelson (disambiguation)
K
- Karl Nelson, American football offensive tackle
- Keith Nelson (disambiguation), several people
- Ken Nelson (British record producer), British music producer
- Ken Nelson (United States record producer), US country music producer
- Kent C. Nelson, CEO United Parcel Service
- Kins Nelson (born 1973), Sri Lankan politician
- Kirsten Nelson, American actress
- Knute Nelson, 12th Governor of Minnesota
- Kristin Nelson, American primitive painter and author
L
- Larry Nelson, American professional golfer
- Lauren Nelson, American beauty pageant contestant
- Lauritz Nelson, American Medal of Honor recipient
- Lee Nelson (disambiguation)
- Leonard Nelson, German mathematician and philosopher
- Lori Nelson (1933–2020), American actress
- Lukas Nelson, American musician
- Luke Nelson, American baseball pitcher
- Luke Nelson (ski mountaineer)
M
- Marc Nelson, American singer
- Marilyn Nelson (born 1946), American poet, translator, and children's book author
- Matt Nelson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Michael Nelson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Morley Nelson, falconer and educator
N
- Ned Nelson, American college baseball and basketball player
- Nick Nelson, American football player
- Nikki Nelson, American country music singer
- Nihal Nelson, Sri Lankan music singer
O
- Olaf Frederick Nelson, founding leader of the Mau movement for Samoan independence
- Olive Nelson, first Pacific Island graduate of the University of Auckland
- Oliver Nelson, jazz musician
- Omaima Nelson, former model and nanny, imprisoned for cannibalism and murder
- Oscar Frederick Nelson, American Medal of Honor recipient
- Otto L. Nelson Jr., US soldier
- Ozzie Nelson, American entertainer and band leader
P
- Paul Nelson (disambiguation)
- Peter Nelson, American actor
- Phyllis Nelson, American singer
- Picasso Nelson, American football player
- Polly Nelson, lawyer
- Prince Nelson (1958–2016), American singer
Q
- Quenton Nelson, American football player
R
- Ralph Nelson, American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor
- Ray Nelson, science fiction author and cartoonist
- Rebecca J. Nelson, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, Plant Breeding and International Agriculture at Cornell University
- Reeves Nelson (born 1991), American basketball player
- Reggie Nelson, American football free safety
- Richard Nelson (author), anthropologist and writer
- Ricky Nelson, American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor
- Ricky Nelson (baseball)
- Riki R. Nelson, American artist
- Rob Nelson (baseball) (born 1964), former Major League Baseball first baseman
- Rob Nelson (reporter), American news reporter
- Rob Nelson (talk show host), American talk show host
- Robert Nelson (disambiguation)
- Rocky Nelson, American professional baseball player
- Roger D. Nelson, director of the Global Consciousness Project
- Ron Nelson (composer), classical and popular music composer
- Ron Nelson (DJ), Canadian hip hop and reggae DJ and producer
- Rosemary Nelson, Irish human rights lawyer
- Roy Nelson (disambiguation)
- Russ Nelson, American computer programmer
- Russell M. Nelson, president of the LDS Church (Mormons)
- Ruth Nelson (volleyball), women's volleyball coach at University of Iowa
S
- Sammy Nelson, Northern Ireland former football player
- Samuel Nelson (1792–1873), American attorney and Supreme Court justice
- Sandy Nelson, rock drummer
- Scott Nelson, New Zealand race walker
- Sean Nelson, American singer, frontman of Harvey Danger
- Shane Nelson (disambiguation)
- Shara Nelson, singer and musician
- Shawn Nelson (disambiguation)
- Sheila Nelson (1936–2020), English violin and viola teacher
- Sid Nelson (born 1996), English footballer
- Sidney Nelson (1800–1862), English composer
- Simeon Nelson, Australian sculptor
- Simon Nelson, mass murderer
- Socrates Nelson (1814–1867), American politician and businessman
- Steady Nelson, American musician
- Stephen L. Nelson, author
- Steve Nelson (American football)
- Steve Nelson (vibraphonist)
- Stewart Nelson, American mathematician and programmer
- Stuart Nelson, English professional footballer
- Susan Richard Nelson, American lawyer and judge
T
- Tara Nelson, Canadian television journalist and news anchor
- Ted Nelson, American sociologist and philosopher
- Ted S. Nelson, Guamanian politician
- Telena Cruz Nelson, Guamanian politician
- Thomas Nelson (disambiguation), including Tom and Tommy Nelsons
- Tim Blake Nelson, American director, writer, singer and actor
- Todd Nelson (disambiguation)
- Tommy Nelson (baseball) (1917–1973), Major League Baseball player
- Tracy Nelson (actress), of Father Dowling Mysteries
- Tracy Nelson (singer)
- Trevor Nelson, British DJ and presenter
V
- Van Nelson (born 1945), American long-distance runner
- Vicki Nelson-Dunbar, tennis player
W
- Wallace Nelson, Australian politician
- Wally Nelson, American civil rights activist
- Walter Nelson-Rees, cytogeneticist
- Wendy Nelson (disambiguation)
- Wes Nelson (born 1998), English television personality and singer
- William Nelson (disambiguation)
- Willie Nelson (born 1933), American guitarist and country singer
- Wolfred Nelson (1791–1863), mayor of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
References
- Powell, Kimberly (16 January 2020). "NELSON - Surname Meaning and Family History". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- "Nelson Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms". HouseofNames. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- "Nelson Name Meaning & Nelson". Ancestry. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- U.S. Census Bureau; "Frequently Occurring First Names and Surnames From the 1990 Census, (Table) Name Files dist.all.last"; published May 9, 1995; "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2006-08-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.