The Peterson Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Peterson, its origins in England, and the story behind a Peterson family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Peterson coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Peterson name
Peterson is a patronymic meaning "son of Peter", from Greek Petros, "rock". In England it often reflects Scandinavian influence in the north and east, where -son surnames were common. It is also frequent among Scandinavian and Dutch immigrants to America, making it widespread in the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Peterson name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Peterson name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Peterson family history
The complete Peterson pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Peterson name FAQ
What does the Peterson name mean?
Son of Peter. Common variants include Petersen, Peters, Pederson.
Where does the Peterson surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Peterson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Peterson crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Peterson coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.