name
Common
Anderson
AN-d-suhn
Anderson (name) means a Scottish surname derived as a patronymic, also used as a male given name and the name of numerous places worldwide. Example: “Anderson is one of the most common surnames in Scotland.”
name
1
A Scottish surname derived as a patronymic, also used as a male given name and the name of numerous places worldwide.
"Starbucks’ store leadership have advised their employees on how to work around the outage manually, and the company will make sure everyone gets paid for all hours worked, according to Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson."
— Sean Lyngaas, Starbucks forced to pay its baristas manually because of a ransomware attack on third-party software (2024)
"Anderson is one of the most common surnames in Scotland."
""It's almost too realistic, too digital and computery," complains Alexis Vogel, a veteran celebrity makeup artist who recently worked on "Stacked," a high-def show starring Pamela Anderson."
— Clive Thompson, Not Ready for Their Close-Up (2005)
"The first paper plane from the stands was cheered onto the fringes of the pitch in the 19th minute and it was certainly a sleepy start, despite the best efforts of Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers to inject a bit of tempo."
— David Hytner, Saka and Eze strikes sink Serbia as England maintain perfect World Cup qualifying record (2025)
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Anderson.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Andersons
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is one of the most common surnames in Scotland.
Etymology
From Middle English Ander ("Andrew") + -son, after Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland.
Rhymes for Anderson
person
Gerson
Emerson
Pierson
Iverson
Paterson
Peterson
Amberson
Jefferson
Henderson
Patterson
Wilkerson
See all rhymes for Anderson →
Frequently asked questions
What does “Anderson” mean?
The word “Anderson” means a Scottish surname derived as a patronymic, also used as a male given name and the name of numerous places worldwide.
How do you pronounce “Anderson”?
“Anderson” is pronounced AN-d-suhn (/ˈæn.dɚ.sən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Anderson” in a sentence?
Here is “Anderson” used in a sentence: “Anderson is one of the most common surnames in Scotland.”
What part of speech is “Anderson”?
“Anderson” is a name.
Where does the word “Anderson” come from?
The word “Anderson” comes from Middle English. From Middle English Ander ("Andrew") + -son, after Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland.
Is “Anderson” a common word?
“Anderson” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is 'Anderson' Scottish or English in origin?
Anderson is Scottish in origin, formed as a patronymic from the personal name Andrew. It has since spread widely and is now common across many English-speaking countries.
Is 'Anderson' used as a first name as well as a surname?
Yes. Although Anderson is primarily a surname, it is also used as a male given name. In addition, it appears as the name of many towns and other places worldwide.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Anderson:
