Cornelison
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Cornelius” or “descendant of Cornelius.”
The #9,033 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 85,360 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Cornelison is a patronymic formed from the given name Cornelius, with the English -son ending meaning “son of.” Cornelius itself is a Roman family name, ultimately linked to the Latin name Cornelius, which became common in Christian Europe through saints and biblical tradition. In surname use, Cornelison would have identified someone as the son or family descendant of a man named Cornelius.
History
The surname is most likely an Anglicized family name that developed in English-speaking areas from the personal name Cornelius. Like many -son surnames, it appears in records in forms that vary by spelling and pronunciation over time. It is found today mainly in the United States, where it may reflect English, Scots-Irish, or immigrant naming traditions that favored patronymic surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The root name Cornelius was carried by several early saints, which helped keep it in use long after the Roman period.