Surname Jemison - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jemison: What does the surname Jemison mean?
The surname Jemison is believed to derive from the personal name James. The addition of the suffix “-son” typically signifies “son of,” hence Jemison would mean “son of James”. James itself is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or one who follows. Historically, surnames often reflected one's occupation, place of residence, or were derived from a parent's name in most Western cultures. The name Jemison is predominantly found in English-speaking countries, which lends further credence to its origin from the name James. It should be noted that spellings of surnames have evolved over centuries, and variations of the name Jemison may include Jamieson, Jameson, or Jimmerson among others. It's also worth mentioning that Mary Jemison was a famed white woman who was adopted into a Seneca tribe in the 18th century, known as the "White Woman of the Genesee."
Please remember that surname origins can be complex, with migration, language evolution, and different recording practices making exact derivations difficult to determine. Not all people with the surname Jemison will have the same family background or heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisJemison: Where does the name Jemison come from?
The surname Jemison is of English origin, likely derived from "James," a popular biblical name during the Middle Ages, affixed with the suffix "-son," meaning "son of." This was a common method of creating surnames in England, and as such, Jemison can be interpreted as "son of James." The surname may have arisen independently in different regions, therefore, there may be several unrelated Jemison families.
The Jemison surname became more commonly used as people began to migrate and used their surnames as a way to maintain connections with their families or places of origin. The Jemison name was spread further during the colonial period as English emigrants spread around the world.
Today, the name Jemison is most common in the United States, influenced largely by the movement of peoples during the colonial era and in the years since. Notably, there may still be Jemisons in the United Kingdom, but the name is significantly less common there compared to the United States. The name is less common in other parts of the world, although the patterns of global migration mean that there are likely Jemisons found in many different countries.
Variations of the surname Jemison
The surname Jemison has several variant spellings that have evolved over centuries based on traditions, translations, and even misspellings. Variations of the surname include Jamieson, Jameson, Jimmison, Jimison, Jamison, Jemison, and Jemmison.
Sometimes, the prefixes 'Mac' or 'Mc' were used, like McJameson or MacJamieson, signifying 'son of James'. In some cases, specifics of spelling can point towards geographical locations or distinctive clans in Scotland or Ireland from which the family originates.
The dialect, accent, and local influences may also have led to the creation of different spellings. This may include single 'm' or 's', as in Jameson or Jamison, or ending with '-sen' instead of '-son,' as in Jemisen.
Such variations are common in surnames that originate from patronymic traditions, where the surname derives from a male ancestor's name, in this case, the name 'James'.
It's important to note that variations don't necessarily indicate a different lineage but might result from the same family line adapting different spelling nuances over time based on societal, cultural, or geographical influences.
Famous people with the name Jemison
- Mae Carol Jemison: Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African American woman to travel into space when she worked as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.
- Rob Jemison: Rob Jemison is an American actor and dancer who began his career in the New York Ballet Company. He is best known for his diversity of roles on television like The Matrix, Roswell, and Switched at Birth.
- Tika Sumpter: Tika Sumpter is an American actress, producer, and television host who is well known for her many television roles like the Queen Sugar and Hart of Dixie. Her birth name is Latrice Jemison.
- Ludwig Güttler: Ludwig Güttler is a German musician and conductor. He is also well known an an English horn and corno da caccia virtuoso. His birth name is Ludolf Heinrich Jemisin.
- Noma Dumezwini: Noma Dumezwini is a South African film and television actress known for her roles in Blood Diamond and Homeland. She was born Noma Regina Jemison.
- Jessica Powers: Jessica Powers is an American poet. She was born Jessica Marie Jemison and was an American Guggenheim Fellow and Pulitzer Prize finalist.