Origine et histoire

Patronymic surname meaning 'son of Andrew', from the Greek 'Andreas' meaning 'manly' or 'strong'. Saint Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland in the ninth century, elevating the given name Andrew to great popularity and ensuring Anderson became one of the most widespread patronymics in the country. The Scandinavian '-son' suffix reflects Norse settlement patterns in Shetland, Orkney, and the north-east, where Anderson is particularly common. It is one of the few surnames equally frequent in both the Highlands and Lowlands.