Peterson (surname)
Surname list
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| 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 |
List of people with this surname
- Adrian Peterson (born 1985), American football running back
- Adrian N. Peterson (born 1979), American football running back
- Alexis Peterson (born 1995), American/German basketball player
- Amanda Peterson (1971–2015), American actress
- Andrew Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ann Peterson (born 1947), American Olympic diver
- Arthur Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brian Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Carla Peterson (actress) (born 1974), Argentinian actress
- Cassandra Peterson (born 1951), American actress best known for her screen persona "Elvira"
- Charles Peterson, multiple people
- Christine Peterson, American forecaster
- Clark Peterson,(born 1966), film producer
- Chip Peterson, (born 1987), American swimmer
- Collin Peterson (born 1944), American politician, congressman from Minnesota
- Coyote Peterson (born 1981) American YouTuber and Brave Wilderness Presenter
- Daniel Peterson, multiple people
- Darryn Peterson (born 2007), American basketball player
- David Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Daystar Peterson (born 1992), Canadian rapper and singer known professionally as Tory Lanez
- Denis Peterson, American painter
- Donald H. Peterson (1933–2018), former American NASA astronaut
- Donna C. Peterson (born 1946), American politician and educator
- Dorothy Peterson (1897–1979), American actress
- Douglas Peterson, multiple people
- Drew Peterson (born 1954), American former Illinois police sergeant and convicted murderer
- Dustin Peterson (born 1994), American baseball player
- Dutton S. Peterson (1894–1964), New York clergyman and politician
- Elly M. Peterson (1914–2008) American, Michigan 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
- Fiona Peterson, Australian academic
- Frank Peterson (born 1963), German music producer
- Franklin P. Peterson (1930–2000), American mathematician
- Frederick Peterson (neurologist) (1859–1938), American neurologist, psychiatrist, and poet
- Fritz Peterson (1942–2023), American baseball player
- Garry Peterson (born 1945), American drummer
- George P. "Bud" Peterson (born 1952), president, 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
- 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 (1818–1891), American editor, novelist, playwright and poet
- Ivan Peterson (1917–1967), American veterinarian, scientific research for animals, worked with pet actors in Hollywood
- Jace Peterson (born 1990), American baseball player
- Jeret Peterson (1981–2011), American aerial skier
- Jerome Peterson (disambiguation)
- Jesse Peterson (1850–1921), American Industrialist and Presidential Elector
- Jim Peterson (1941–2024), Canadian politician
- John Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jordan Peterson (born 1962), Canadian psychologist, political pundit, author
- Jordan Peterson (born 1987), American football coach
- 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
- Laci Peterson (1975–2002), American, murdered wife of Scott Peterson
- Lenka Peterson (1925–2021), American actress
- Liza Jessie Peterson, American playwright, actor, activist, and educator
- Lynn Peterson, American politician
- Lynn Peterson, Canadian, mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Maggie Peterson (1941–2022), American actress
- Mark Peterson (disambiguation), several people
- Martha Peterson (born 1945)
- Maurice Peterson (1889–1952), British diplomat
- Michael Peterson (disambiguation)
- Minnie Peterson (1897–1989), Pioneerwoman, packer, guide, outfitter
- Morris Peterson (born 1977), American basketball player
- Norm Peterson (politician) (born 1939), Australian politician
- Olive Peterson (1894–1965), American bridge player
- Oscar Peterson (1925–2007), Canadian jazz pianist and composer
- Oscar V. Peterson (1899–1942), American seaman in the US Navy
- Patrick Peterson (born 1990), American football player
- Peter Peterson, multiple people
- Ralph Peterson (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, multiple people
- Ronnie Peterson (1944–1978), Swedish racing driver
- Russell W. Peterson (1916–2011), American engineer and politician, governor of Delaware
- Scott Peterson (born 1972), American convicted murderer
- Shelley Peterson (born 1952), Canadian actress
- Stephen Peterson (rower) (born 1963), American world champion rower in 1990, 1996 Olympian
- Ted Peterson, writer and video game designer
- Thage G. Peterson (1933), Swedish politician
- Thalia Gouma-Peterson (1933–2001), American professor
- 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
- Vadal Peterson (1892–1976), American college sports coach
- Val Peterson (1903–1983), American, governor of Nebraska
- Vicki Peterson (born 1958), American pop musician
- Walter R. Peterson, Jr. (1922–2011), governor of New Hampshire
- W. Wesley Peterson (1924–2009), American mathematician and computer scientist
- William Peterson, multiple people
Fictional characters with this surname
- Albert Peterson, character portrayed by Dick Van Dyke in the Broadway musical and film Bye Bye Birdie
- Carl and Irma Peterson, enemies of Bulldog Drummond
- Cora Peterson, character in the 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage
- Chris Peterson, the main character from the American TV sitcom Get a Life (1990–1992)
- Fred and Gladys Peterson, characters from the American TV sitcom Get a Life (1990–1992)
- Lindsay Peterson, character in the television series Queer as Folk
- Minty Peterson, character in EastEnders
- Norm Peterson, character on the American sitcom television series Cheers
- Penny, Patty, and Paul Peterson, characters in the 2014 animated film Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- Ray Peterson, character portrayed by Tom Hanks in The 'Burbs
- Sloane Peterson, character portrayed by Mia Sara in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
- Stinky Peterson, character on animated TV Show Hey Arnold!.
- Theodore Peterson, character in the game Hello Neighbor
