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Peterson/Petersen[1] is a Scandinavian 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 Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Brussels in the northwestern region.[2] There are an estimated 700 variant spellings of the surname.[3] 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 |
| Meaning | "son of Peter" |
| Region of origin | Swedish/Danish |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Pederson, Petersen |
- 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
- David Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Daystar Peterson (born 1992), Canadian rapper and singer known professionally as Tory Lanez
- Debbi Peterson (born 1961), American singer
- Denis Peterson, American painter
- Donald H. Peterson (1933–2018), former American NASA astronaut
- Donald M. Peterson (1900–1994), WW1, and WW2 veteran, sergeant, bronze star recipient
- 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 (born 1941), Canadian politician
- John Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jordan Peterson (born 1962), Canadian psychologist, political pundit, author
- Kandi Peterson (born 1981), American singer of Dutch roots
- Keith Peterson (born 1956), Canadian politician
- Kevin Peterson (born 1994), American football player
- Kristjan Jaak Peterson (1801–1822), Estonian poet
- 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
- 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
- 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
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