Surname Lampson - Meaning and Origin

Lampson: What does the surname Lampson mean?

The last name Lampson is of English origin and is considered an occupational surname. It likely derives from the Middle English word "lamp", and was originally designated to someone who made, sold, or lit lamps which was a significant job during medieval times when electric light was not yet discovered. The suffix "son" simply meant 'son of,' suggesting that the name Lampson could mean 'son of the lamp maker or lamp lighter'. Like many surnames, Lampson might have been used to describe a person's occupation or location, or might have been a patronymic surname passed from a father to his children. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation, and were adopted in England from the 11th century onwards. The variations of the surname Lampson include Lampson, Lampston, and Lompson among others.

Lampson: Where does the name Lampson come from?

The surname Lampson is of English origin. It is derived from the occupational name for a servant at a house or inn, specifically one in charge of the lamps, from the Middle English words "lampe" (lamp) and "sone" (son), later shorten to Lampson.

The data on the geographical distribution of the Lampson surname suggests that it is not quite common today. While it exists globally, it is quite a rare name. Nonetheless, this surname enjoys a higher concentration in the United States, albeit thinly spread across the country. Other places where this surname is found, although in relatively smaller numbers, include Canada, England, and Australia. There are also few bearers of this last name in countries like Sweden, Brazil and Scotland. Because of migration patterns, variants of this surname could be found in other parts of the world too.

Notably, Sir Curtis Lampson, 1st Baronet (an American-born British businessman) and Lucy Elizabeth Lampson (wife of popular cartoonist Osbert Lancaster) are two of the most famous bearers of this surname.

Variations of the surname Lampson

The surname Lampson is relatively uncommon and specific to certain regions, especially prevalent in the United States and England. Derived from the given name Lambert, it might have different spellings or variations influenced by regional dialects, accents, or literally translated into other languages. The possible variants and surnames might include Lampston, Lamson, Lampton, Lambson, and Lampion.

The ancestral details of this surname suggest possible connections to "Lambertson" or "Lamberton" which is of English and Dutch origin. Simpler and similarly spelled names like Lamb, Lamar, or Lam also might be distantly related. Some ambiguous European versions can include Lamprecht, Lambert, Lambrich, Lambrucci, etc.

However, it's critical to cross-check individual family genealogy, as various paths lead to different surnames, and personal names often got adapted into surnames differently based on regions and languages. Some changes might be the result of transcription errors, changes in spelling over time, or deliberate changes to the family name made by the family members themselves. Therefore, not all variations can be definitely attributed to the original "Lampson" surname.

Famous people with the name Lampson

• Lindsay Lampson: American television producer, executive producer, and agent.
• William Lampson: United States District Judge and Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
• Charles Lampson: American industrialist and philanthropist, he served as president of the United Engineering Companies from 1910 to 1922.
• Ernest Lampson: British trade unionist and one of the founding members of the General Federation of Trade Unions.
• Brigadier General Ted Lampson: United States Air Force officer and Vietnam War veteran.
• Andrew Lampson: American brilliantly minded, business entrepreneur and visionary.
• Jean-Baptiste Lampson: French engineer and inventor.
• Paul Lampson: American doctor, researcher, and biochemist who made notable contributions to the study of antibiotics.
• John Lampson: English cricketer who made 132 first-class cricket appearances for Sussex and Hampshire between 1923 and 1938.
• Thomas Lampson: British Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds from 1925 to 1929.

Other surnames

Lamps