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Show ContentsPeterson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname Peterson is a patronymic name created originally from the personal name of a male relative. Peterson is derived from the Greek word "petros," which means 'rock.' Forms of this name gained much popularity in the Middle Ages, as it appears in the Bible, bestowed by Christ on an apostle. St. Peter is often regarded as being the founder of the Christian church. The suffix "sson" and its variants are translatable as "son of."

Peterson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: pettersen and others.

Peterson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Peterson is the 68th most popular surname with an estimated 266,109 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Peterson is ranked the 290th most popular surname with an estimated 14,960 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Peterson is the 408th popular surname with an estimated 9,083 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Peterson as 351st with 1,815 people. 4

United States Peterson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peterson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Peterson, who settled in Virginia in 1622
  • Henricke Peterson, who landed in Virginia in 1622 5
  • William Peterson, who settled in Virginia in 1638
  • Ann Peterson, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 5
  • Barnett Peterson, who landed in Virginia in 1650 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Peterson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Peterson, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 5
  • Cerveses Peterson, who landed in Virginia in 1702 5
  • Bernard Peterson, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 5
  • Cornelius Peterson, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 5
  • Kirstin Peterson, who arrived in New York in 1738 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Peterson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Hans C Peterson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1828 5
  • Gumull Peterson, aged 40, who landed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1831 5
  • Gustavus H Peterson, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1837 5
  • Gustoff Peterson, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1837 5
  • Jacob Peterson, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1837 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Peterson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Axel Peterson, who landed in Arkansas in 1905 5
  • Antion Peterson, who landed in Mississippi in 1905 5
  • Gustave Peterson, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 5
  • Fred Emil Peterson, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1908 5
  • Louis Peterson, who landed in Wisconsin in 1910 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Peterson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peterson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. C. John Peterson U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
  • Mr. John Peterson U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
  • Mr. Nicholas Peterson U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
  • Mr. Nicholas Peterson U.E., (Claas) who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
  • Mr. Nicholas Peterson U.E. who settled in Adolphus Town [Adolphustown], Ontario c. 1784 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Peterson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Julius S Peterson, who arrived in Quebec in 1867

Australia Peterson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Peterson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Peterson, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • Mr. Andrew Peterson who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • Charlotte Peterson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ganges" in 1839 9
  • Peter Wilhelm Peterson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 10
  • Margaret Peterson, aged 25, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Frenchman"

New Zealand Peterson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Peterson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Peterson, aged 24, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • Elizabeth Peterson, aged 25, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • Sophia Peterson, aged 44, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1873 11
  • Maria Peterson, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1873 11
  • Hans J. Peterson, aged 40, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Peterson (post 1700) +

  • Fred Ingels Peterson (1942-2024), American professional baseball pitcher
  • Edwin J. Peterson (1930-2023), American jurist in the state of Oregon, 39th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1983 to 1991
  • Margaret Ann "Maggie" Peterson (1941-2022), American actress and singer, best known for playing Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show
  • Ralph Peterson Jr. (1962-2021), American jazz drummer and bandleader
  • Judge Kenneth "Luck" Peterson (1964-2020), American musician who played contemporary blues, fusing soul, R&B, gospel and rock and roll
  • Eugene Hoiland Peterson (1932-2018), American-born Gold Medallion Book Award winning clergyman, scholar, author, and poet
  • Colonel Donald Herod Peterson (1923-2018), United States Air Force officer and a former NASA astronaut with over 5 days in space 12
  • Peter George Peterson (1926-2018), born Peter Petropoulos, American businessman, investment banker, philanthropist, and author, 20th United States Secretary of Commerce (1972-1973), CEO of Lehman Brothers; according to Forbes, he had a net worth of $2.8 billion
  • Douglas Blair Peterson (1945-2017), American yacht designer of the winning 1992 America3 and 1995 NZL 32 Black Magic Team New Zealand design teams
  • Tom Peterson (1930-2016), American retailer, pitchman, and television personality from Portland, Oregon
  • ... (Another 296 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. William Victor Peterson (d. 1914), British Carpenter from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 13
  • Mr. G. Peterson (d. 1914), Swedish Third Class Passenger from Gothenburg, Sweden who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 13
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Andrew  Peterson (1894-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
  • Mr. Gustav  Peterson (1894-1917), Norwegian Boatswain aboard the SS Imo from Throndheim, Norway who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. James Edward Peterson (1907-1941), Australian Gunner (T) from Thornbury, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 15
  • Mr. Peter William Peterson (1917-1941), Australian Stoker from Ellenbank, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 15
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Peterson, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16
SS Atlantic
  • R. R. Peterson, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. Harold Norman Peterson, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Carl Victor Peterson, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Elroy Vernon Peterson, American Fire Controlman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 17
  • Mr. Hardy Wilbur Peterson, American Fire Controlman Third Class from Washington, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 17
  • Mr. Roscoe Earl Peterson, American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 17
  • Mr. Albert H. Peterson Jr., American Fire Controlman Third Class from New Jersey, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 17

Suggested Readings for the name Peterson +

  • From Norway to North America: the Descendants in Canada and the United Stated of Olaf and Caroline Pederson who came from Norway about 1867 to Manitoba and North Dakota by Jean E. Peterson.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  8. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 8th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/circassian
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GANGES 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Ganges.gif
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCE REGENT 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839PrinceRegent.htm
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 6th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Donald Peterson. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/peterson-dh.html
  13. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  14. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  15. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  16. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  17. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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