Nelson (surname)
Nelson is a surname. Within the United States, it is ranked as the 39th-most common surname of 88799 listed.[1]
The history of the name Nelson begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of British. It is derived from a patronymic name created from the given name "Nell," or for the Irish, "Niall." The name is also listed as a baptismal name "the son of Eleanor" from the nickname "Nell." [2][3] Many derived from Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, also known as Lord Nelson, a British admiral known for his participation in the Napoleonic Wars.
Nelson is also an Americanized version of common Swedish surname Nilsson.
Notable persons named Nelson
A
- Adam Nelson, American shotputter
- Al Nelson, American football cornerback
- Alberta Nelson, American television actress
- Alexander Nelson, British sprint athlete
- Alice Dunbar Nelson, American poet, journalist and political activist
- Allison Nelson, mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
- Andrew Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ann Nelson (1958–2019), particle physicist
- Anthony Nelson (disambiguation)
- Antonya Nelson, American author
- Arthur E. Nelson, American politician
- Aven Nelson, American botanist
- Azumah Nelson, boxer
B
- Baby Face Nelson, best-known alias of American bank robber Lester Joseph Gillis (1908–1934)
- Barry Nelson, American actor
- Barry Nelson (rugby league)
- Ben Nelson, US senator
- Benjamin Nelson, American sociologist
- Bill Nelson (disambiguation)
- Billy Bass Nelson (born 1951), US musician, member of the P-funk all stars
- Bobbie Nelson, country and jazz pianist, sister of Willie Nelson
- Bobby Nelson former professional wrestler and businessman
- Brad Nelson, Major League Baseball player
- Brendan Nelson (born 1958), Australian member for Bradfield and former Leader of the Opposition
- Brian Nelson (disambiguation)
- Bruce Nelson (disambiguation)
- Buck Nelson, American farmer who claimed to have encountered a UFO and its crew
- Byron Nelson, American PGA Tour golfer
C
- Carey Nelson, long-distance runner
- Charles Gregory Nelson (computer scientist)
- Charles P. Nelson (1877–1935), US admiral
- Cindy Nelson, American alpine ski racer
- Clara Nelson, married name of Clarissa Haili (1901–1979), better known as Hilo Hattie, Hawaiian entertainer
- Cody Nelson (born 1988), Australian rugby league player
- Colette Nelson (born 1974), IFBB American professional bodybuilder
- Colleen Nelson, Australian cancer research scientist
- Conrad Nelson, British actor, composer and director
- Corey Nelson, American football linebacker
- Craig T. Nelson, American actor
D
- Darrin Nelson, American football player
- Dave Nelson, Major League Baseball player
- David Nelson (disambiguation), including people named Dave Nelson
- Diane Nelson (comics), President of DC Entertainment
- Don Nelson, National Basketball Association head coach
- Donnie Nelson, general manager
E
- Earle Nelson (1897–1928), American serial killer
- Ed Nelson (1928–2014), American actor
- Edmund Nelson (American football) (born 1960), American football player and television commentator
- Edmund Nelson (clergyman) (1722–1802), father of Horatio Nelson
- Edward Nelson (1932–2014), American mathematics professor
- Edward Nelson (Alamo defender), Texian soldier
- Edward Nelson (marine biologist) (1883–1923), British invertebrate zoologist and polar explorer
- Edward William Nelson (1855–1934), American naturalist and ethnologist
- Erven T. Nelson (born 1956), American lawyer and politician.
- Esther Nelson (1810–1843), Manx poet
F
- Francis Nelson (disambiguation)
- Frank Nelson (disambiguation)
- Franklin Nelson, American figure skater
- Frederick Nelson, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering
G
- Gail S. Nelson, American mathematician
- Gary Nelson (disambiguation)
- Garry Nelson (born 1961), English footballer
- Gaylord Nelson (1916–2005), American Democratic politician
- Gene Nelson (1920–1996), American dancer, actor, screenwriter, and director
- Gene Nelson (baseball) (born 1960), American baseball player
- George Nelson (astronaut) (born 1950), American astronaut
- George Nelson (designer) (1908–1986), American designer
- George Nelson, 1st Baron Nelson of Stafford (1887–1962)
- Graham Nelson (born 1968), British mathematician and poet
- Gunnar Nelson (fighter) (born 1988), Icelandic martial artist and professional fighter
- Gunnar Nelson (musician) (born 1967), American musician, singer, and songwriter
- Guy Nelson (1900–1969), English cricketer
H
- Harold Nelson (illustrator)
- Harold George Nelson, Australian politician
- Harold "H" Nelson, English cycling coach
- Harriet Nelson, American singer and actress
- Harris Nelson (1835-1883), Australian businessman and politician
- Haywood Nelson, American actor
- Henry Nelson, 2nd Baron Nelson of Stafford
- Henry Addison Nelson (1820-1906), Presbyterian clergyman
- Henry C. Nelson (born 1836), New York politician
- Holly Nelson, Canadian writer, poet, activist
- Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (1758–1805), British vice-admiral
- Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson (1823–1913), British politician
- Howard Nelson (disambiguation)
- Hugh Nelson (disambiguation)
I
- Ira Schreiber Nelson (1912–1965), American botanist
J
- Jameer Nelson, American professional basketball player
- James Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jane Nelson, Texas Senate member
- Jeff Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jeremiah Nelson, Massachusetts Representative
- Jerry Nelson, Muppet puppeteer
- Jesy Nelson, member of the British girl group Little Mix
- Jez Nelson, jazz broadcaster and television producer
- Jill Nelson, American journalist and novelist.
- Jimmy Nelson (disambiguation)
- J. J. Nelson, American football wide receiver
- Joe Nelson, relief pitcher in Major League Baseball
- John Nelson (disambiguation)
- Johnny Nelson, world champion boxer
- Jordy Nelson, American professional football player
- Joseph S. Nelson, American/Canadian ichthyologist
- Juanita Morrow Nelson, American activist and war tax resister
- Judd Nelson, American actor
- Judy Nelson, ex-partner of Martina Navratilova
- Julie Nelson (disambiguation)
K
- Karl Nelson, American football offensive tackle
- Katy Nelson, Hollywood costume designer
- Keith Nelson (disambiguation), several people
- Ken Nelson (British record producer), British music producer
- Ken Nelson (United States record producer), US country music producer
- Kent C. Nelson, CEO United Parcel Service
- Kirsten Nelson, American actress
- Knute Nelson, 12th Governor of Minnesota
- Kristin Nelson, American primitive painter and author
L
- Larry Nelson, American professional golfer
- Lauren Nelson, American beauty pageant contestant
- Lauritz Nelson, American Medal of Honor recipient
- Lee Nelson (disambiguation)
- Leonard Nelson, German mathematician and philosopher
- Lori Nelson, American actress
- Lukas Nelson, American musician
- Luke Nelson, American baseball pitcher
- Luke Nelson (ski mountaineer)
M
- Marc Nelson, American singer
- Marilyn Nelson (born 1946), American poet, translator, and children's book author
- Matthew Nelson, American singer, songwriter, and musician
- Michael Nelson (disambiguation), including those named Mike Nelson
- Morley Nelson, falconer and educator
N
- Ned Nelson, American college baseball and basketball player
- Nick Nelson, American football player
- Nikki Nelson, American country music singer
- Nihal Nelson, Sri Lankan music singer
O
- Olaf Frederick Nelson, founding leader of the Mau movement for Samoan independence
- Olive Nelson, first Pacific Island graduate of the University of Auckland
- Oliver Nelson, jazz musician
- Omaima Nelson, former model and nanny, imprisoned for cannibalism and murder
- Oscar Frederick Nelson, American Medal of Honor recipient
- Otto L. Nelson, Jr., US soldier
- Ozzie Nelson, American entertainer and band leader
P
- Paul Nelson (disambiguation)
- Peter Nelson, American actor
- Phyllis Nelson, American singer
- Picasso Nelson, American football player
- Polly Nelson, lawyer
- Prince Nelson (1958-2016), American singer
Q
- Quenton Nelson, American football player
R
- Ralph Nelson, American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor
- Ray Nelson, science fiction author and cartoonist
- Rebecca J. Nelson, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, Plant Breeding and International Agriculture at Cornell University
- Reeves Nelson (born 1991), American basketball player
- Reggie Nelson, American football free safety
- Richard Nelson (author), anthropologist and writer
- Ricky Nelson, American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor
- Ricky Nelson (baseball)
- Riki R. Nelson, American artist
- Rob Nelson (baseball) (born 1964), former Major League Baseball first baseman
- Rob Nelson (reporter), American news reporter
- Rob Nelson (talk show host), American talk show host
- Robert Nelson (disambiguation)
- Rocky Nelson, American professional baseball player
- Roger D. Nelson, director of the Global Consciousness Project
- Ron Nelson (composer), classical and popular music composer
- Ron Nelson (DJ), Canadian hip hop and reggae DJ and producer
- Rosemary Nelson, Irish human rights lawyer
- Roy Nelson (disambiguation)
- Russ Nelson, American computer programmer
- Russell M. Nelson, president of the LDS Church (Mormons)
- Ruth Nelson (volleyball), women’s volleyball coach at University of Iowa
S
- Sammy Nelson, Northern Ireland former football player
- Samuel Nelson (1792–1873), American attorney and Supreme Court justice
- Sandy Nelson, rock drummer
- Scott Nelson, New Zealand race walker
- Sean Nelson, American singer, frontman of Harvey Danger
- Shane Nelson (disambiguation)
- Shara Nelson, singer and musician
- Shawn Nelson (disambiguation)
- Sid Nelson (born 1996), English footballer
- Sidney Nelson (1800–1862), English composer
- Simeon Nelson, Australian sculptor
- Simon Nelson, mass murderer
- Steady Nelson, American musician
- Stephen L. Nelson, author
- Steve Nelson (American football)
- Steve Nelson (vibraphonist)
- Stewart Nelson, American mathematician and programmer
- Stuart Nelson, English professional footballer
- Susan Richard Nelson, American lawyer and judge
T
- Tara Nelson, Canadian television journalist and news anchor
- Ted Nelson, American sociologist and philosopher
- Ted S. Nelson, Guamanian politician
- Telena Nelson, Guamanian politician
- Thomas Nelson (disambiguation), including Tom and Tommy Nelsons
- Tim Blake Nelson, American director, writer, singer and actor
- Todd Nelson (disambiguation)
- Tommy Nelson (baseball) (1917–1973), Major League Baseball player
- Tracy Nelson (actress), of Father Dowling Mysteries
- Tracy Nelson (singer)
- Trevor Nelson, British DJ and presenter
V
- Van Nelson (born 1945), American long-distance runner
- Vicki Nelson-Dunbar, tennis player
W
- Wallace Nelson, Australian politician
- Wally Nelson, American civil rights activist
- Walter Nelson-Rees, cytogeneticist
- Wendy Nelson (disambiguation)
- William Nelson (disambiguation)
- Willie Nelson (born 1933), American guitarist and country singer
- Wolfred Nelson (1791–1863), mayor of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
See also
References
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau; "Frequently Occurring First Names and Surnames From the 1990 Census, (Table) Name Files dist.all.last"; published May 9, 1995; <"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)> - ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
This page lists people with the surname Nelson.
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If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.