Nelson (surname)
Nelson is an English, Scottish, Irish, Northern Irish, Scots-Irish, and Scandinavian surname. It is a patronymic name derived from Nell. The name is also listed as a baptismal name "the son of Eleanor". The name was popularised by Admiral Horatio Nelson as a given name.
Nelson is also an anglicized version of the Scandinavian names Nilsen, Nielsen, and Nilsson. In the United States in 1990, it was ranked as the 39th-most common surname.
Notable people with the surname "Nelson" include
A
- A. C. Nelson, American educator
- Adam Nelson, American shotputter
- Adolph Lincoln Nelson, American inventor
- Adolphus Peter Nelson, American politician
- Adriana Nelson, American long-distance runner
- Adrienne Nelson, American lawyer and judge
- A. J. Nelson, Ghanaian recording artist
- Al Nelson, American football player
- Al Nelson (sound engineer), American sound engineer
- Alberta Nelson, American actress
- Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, New Zealand rugby union player
- Alexander Nelson, British sprinter
- Alexander Nelson (British Army officer), British army officer
- Alexis Nikole Nelson, American chef
- Alice Dunbar Nelson, American poet
- Allison Nelson, American politician
- Alondra Nelson, American writer
- Amy Nelson, American lawyer
- Amy K. Nelson, American journalist
- Anne Nelson, American journalist
- Antonya Nelson, American author
- Armando Melgar Nelson, Guatemalan footballer
- Arnett Nelson, American musician
- Arvell Nelson, American football player
- Aven Nelson, American botanist
- Avua-Siav Leo Nelson, Russian footballer
- Azumah Nelson, Ghanaian boxer
B
- Baby Face Nelson, American gang member
- Barrie Nelson, Canadian animator
- Battling Nelson, Danish-born American boxer
- Beata Nelson, American swimmer
- Bek Nelson, American model
- Benjamin Nelson, American sociologist
- Benny Nelson, American football player
- Bertram Nelson, British accountant
- Beryce Nelson, Australian politician
- Billie Nelson, British motorcycle racer
- Billy Bass Nelson, American politician
- Blake Nelson, American author
- Boycie Nelson, New Zealand rugby league footballer
- Bradley Nelson, American robotist
- Brady Nelson, American businessman
- Brendan Nelson, Australian politician
- Brittany Nelson, American artist
- Brock Nelson, American ice hockey player
- Brooklyn Nelson, American actress
- Bryan Nelson, American politician
- Bryant Nelson, American baseball player
- Buck Nelson, American farmer
- Byron Nelson, American golfer
C
- Caleb Nelson, American law professor
- Caleb Azumah Nelson, British-Ghanaian writer
- Camille A. Nelson, Canadian-Jamaican law professor
- Candace Nelson, American chef
- Candy Nelson, American baseball player
- Carey Nelson, Canadian long-distance runner
- Carla Nelson, American politician
- Carly Nelson, American soccer player
- Caroline Nelson, Danish-American activist
- Carter Nelson, American football player
- Cary Nelson, American professor
- Casey Nelson, American ice hockey player
- Catherine Nelson, Northern Irish politician
- Celeste Nelson, American scientist
- Charmaine Nelson, Canadian curator
- Cindy Nelson, American alpine skier
- Cindy Nelson (actress), Australian actress
- Cirilo Nelson, Honduran botanist
- Clair Nelson, American politician
- Cleland Kinloch Nelson, American bishop
- Cody Nelson, Australian rugby league player
- Cole Nelson, Canadian American football player
- Colette Nelson, American bodybuilder
- Colleen Nelson, Australian scientist
- Conrad Nelson, British actor
- Cordner Nelson, American publisher
- Corey Nelson, American football player
- Corky Nelson, American football player and coach
- Craig Richard Nelson, American actor
- Craig T. Nelson, American actor
D
- Dale Nelson, Canadian murderer
- Dana D. Nelson, American English professor
- Daniel Nelson, various people
- Darby Nelson, American writer and politician
- Darrin Nelson, American football player
- Daryl Nelson, Australian rules footballer
- Debbie Nelson, American author, mother of rapper Eminem
- Deborah Nelson, American journalist
- Deborah L. Nelson, American academic
- DeMarcus Nelson, Serbian-American basketball player
- Derrie Nelson, American football player
- Diane Nelson (businesswoman), American business executive
- Dianne Nelson, American writer
- Donnie Nelson, American basketball executive
- Dorothea Nelson, American librarian
- Dorothyann Nelson, American figure skater
- Douglas Nelson, American judoka
- Duke Nelson, American athletic administrator
- Dwight Nelson, Japanese-American pastor
- Dwight Nelson (politician), Jamaican politician
E
- Earle Nelson, American serial killer
- Eddie J. Nelson, American sound engineer
- Edith M. Nelson, American librarian
- Edna Lillian Nelson, Australian doctor
- Edor Nelson, American athlete
- Eldon Nelson, American jockey
- Edward William Nelson, American naturalist and ethnologist
- Elimu Nelson, American actor
- Eliza Nelson, Indian field hockey player
- Elmer C. Nelson, American politician
- Emily Nelson, English cyclist
- Emmett Nelson, American baseball player
- Erich Nelson, German artist
- Erven T. Nelson, American lawyer and politician
- Esther Nelson, Manx poet
- Evelyn Nelson, American actress
- Evelyn Nelson (mathematician), Canadian mathematician
- Everett Nelson, American baseball player
F
- Frances Nelson, English public figure
- Frances Nelson (actress), American actress
- Franklin Nelson, American figure skater
- Fraser Nelson, British journalist
- Fred Nelson, Australian rugby league footballer
- Frederick Nelson, American engineering professor
- Felonie Nelson, American Artist
G
- Gail S. Nelson, American mathematician
- Garnett Nelson, American football coach
- Garry Nelson, English footballer
- Gaylord Nelson, American politician
- Gene Nelson, American dancer
- Gene Nelson (baseball), American baseball player
- Gerald Nelson, South African cricketer
- Gil Nelson, American botanist
- Glen Nelson, American poet
- G. Lynn Nelson, American author
- G. M. Nelson, American politician
- Gord Nelson, Canadian ice hockey player
- Gordon M. Nelson, American political activist
- Graham Nelson, British mathematician and poet
- Grant Nelson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gray Nelson, New Zealand public servant
- Gunvor Nelson, Swedish filmmaker and artist
- Guy Nelson, English cricketer
- G. W. Nelson, American politician
- Gwen Nelson, English actress
H
- Hank Nelson, Australian historian
- Harriet Nelson, American singer
- Harris Nelson, Australian businessman and politician
- Harvey Frans Nelson Jr., American diplomat
- Havelock Nelson, Irish composer
- Havelock Nelson (writer), Guyanese journalist
- Haywood Nelson, American actor
- H. C. Nelson, American politician
- Helena Nelson, Scottish poet
- Herm Nelson, American racewalker
- H. G. P. Nelson, Sri Lankan politician
- Hilaree Nelson, American ski mountaineer
- Holly Nelson, Canadian writer and activist
- Horace Nelson, American politician
- Horatia Nelson, British public figure
- Hosea Nelson, American chemist
- Hub Nelson, American ice hockey player
I
- Ira Schreiber Nelson, American botanist
- Irene Nelson, Russian recording artist
- Isaac Nelson, Irish politician and minister
- Isaac De Groff Nelson, American politician
- Ivory V. Nelson, American educator
J
- Jackson Nelson, Australian rules footballer
- Jacob Broughton Nelson, American fraternity founder
- Jacqui Nelson, New Zealand cyclist
- Jameer Nelson, American basketball player
- Jamie Nelson, American baseball player
- Jamie Lindemann Nelson, American philosopher
- Jan Nelson, Australian artist
- Janai Nelson, American lawyer
- Jandy Nelson, American author
- Jane Nelson, American politician
- Janet Nelson, British historian
- Jason Nelson (poet), American poet
- Jason Nelson (musician), American musician
- Jaxon Nelson, American ice hockey player
- Jay Nelson, American video editor
- Jayden Nelson, Canadian soccer player
- Jenny Nelson, British physics professor
- Jeremiah Nelson, American politician
- Jeremy Nelson, American visual artist
- Jermy Nelson, Jamaican footballer
- Jerry Nelson, American puppeteer
- Jerry Nelson (astronomer), American astronomer
- Jesy Nelson, British singer
- Jez Nelson, British radio broadcaster
- Jill Nelson, American journalist
- J. J. Nelson, American football player
- Joan Nelson, American visual artist
- Joanna Nelson, American ecologist
- Jock Nelson, Australian politician
- Joe Nelson, American baseball player
- Joel Nelson, American poet
- Johnny Nelson, British boxer
- Jordy Nelson, American football player
- Jorel Nelson, American professional wrestler
- Josh Nelson, American pianist
- Josie Nelson, English cyclist
- Juanita Morrow Nelson, American activist
- Judd Nelson, American actor
- Judith Nelson, American soprano
- Judy Nelson, American author and social figure
- Julia Bullard Nelson, American activist
- Julia D. Nelson, American politician
- Julio Jorge Nelson, Argentine musician
- Justin L. Nelson, American Army Veteran
- Justus Henry Nelson, American missionary
K
- Kameron Nelson (gymnast), American gymnast
- Kameron Nelson (politician), American politician
- Karen Nelson (athlete), Canadian hurler
- Karen E. Nelson, Jamaican-American microbiologist
- Karl Nelson, American football player
- Katherine Nelson, American psychologist
- Katherine Greacen Nelson, American geologist
- Kay Nelson, American costume designer
- Kemba Nelson, Jamaican sprinter
- Kemi Nelson, Nigerian politician
- Kent C. Nelson, American businessman
- Kim Nelson, Australian artist
- Kim L. Nelson, American politician
- Kins Nelson, Sri Lankan politician
- Kirsten Nelson, American actress
- Knox Nelson, American politician
- Knuckles Nelson, American professional wrestler
- Knute Nelson, American politician
- Kristin Nelson, American painter and author
L
- Larry Nelson, American golfer
- Lars Nelson, Swedish skier
- Lauren Nelson, American beauty queen
- Lauritz Nelson, Norwegian-American sailor
- Lawrie Nelson, Australian racing driver
- Lefty Nelson, American baseball player
- Lemrick Nelson, American criminal
- Lennart Nelson, Swedish weightlifter
- Leonard Nelson, German mathematician and philosopher
- Léone Boudreau-Nelson, American-born Canadian phonetician
- Levi B. Nelson, American politician
- Lew A. Nelson, American test pilot
- Lianne Nelson, American rower
- Lindsey Nelson, American sportscaster
- Lisa Nelson, American artist
- Lloyd S. Nelson, American statistician
- Logan Nelson, American composer
- Lonnie Nelson, American activist
- Lori Nelson, American actress
- Louie Nelson, American basketball player
- Lowell A. Nelson, American politician
- Lyle Nelson, American biathlete
M
- Madison Nelson, justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals
- Maggie Nelson, American writer
- Malachi Nelson, American football player
- Marc Nelson, American singer-songwriter
- Marc Saw Nelson, Burmese-Australian television host
- Marilyn Nelson, American author and poet
- Marjorie Nelson, American actress
- Marshall Nelson, Australian-Belgian basketball player
- Martin A. Nelson, American lawyer and judge
- Maud Nelson, American baseball player
- Marvin Nelson, American politician
- Maximo Nelson, Dominican baseball player
- Mel Nelson, American baseball player
- Melissa K. Nelson, American indigenous activist
- Merle Nelson, American politician
- Merrill Nelson, American politician
- Mervyn Nelson, American actor
- Michael A. Nelson, Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force
- Mickaël Nelson, French footballer
- Midge Nelson, Australian softball player
- Mikiela Nelson, Canadian rugby union footballer
- Mimi Nelson, Swedish actress
- M.O. Nelson, Canadian businessman
- Morley Nelson, American falconer and educator
- Murry R. Nelson, American professor
N
- Napoleon Nelson, American politician
- Nathan Nelson (biochemist), Israeli biologist
- Nathan Nelson (politician), American politician
- Neal Nelson, American basketball coach
- Ned Nelson, American baseball and basketball player
- Neil Nelson, American Marine general
- Nici Nelson, English anthropologist
- Nicholas Nelson (Jamaican footballer), Jamaican footballer
- Nicholas H. Nelson, American politician
- Niecee Nelson, American basketball coach
- Nihal Nelson, Sri Lankan vocalist
- Nikki Nelson, American singer
- Niles Nelson, American football coach
- Nirith Nelson, Israeli artist
- N. O. Nelson, American businessman
- Noel Nelson, Irish cricketer
- Norm Nelson, American stock car driver
- Norman Nelson, South African rugby union footballer
- Novella Nelson, American actress
O
- O. B. Nelson, Danish-American politician
- Olaf Frederick Nelson, Samoan businessman and politician
- Olive Nelson, Samoan barrister
- Olive Nelson Russell, American composer, organist and pianist
- Oliver Nelson, American jazz musician
- Omaima Nelson, Egyptian-American model
- Oscar Nelson, American politician
- Oscar Frederick Nelson, American naval officer
- Otto L. Nelson Jr., American soldier
- Ozzie Nelson, American actor
P
- Packie Nelson, American football player
- Pam Nelson, American politician
- Pamela Nelson, American artist
- Paula Nelson, American singer
- Phillip Nelson, American economic professor
- Phyllis Nelson, American singer
- Picasso Nelson, American football player
- Polly Nelson, American attorney
- Polycarpus Nelson, English landowner
- Portia Nelson, American singer-songwriter
- Prince Nelson, American singer-songwriter
Q
- Quenton Nelson, American football player
R
- Ralph Nelson, American film director
- Ralph Nelson (American football), American football player
- Raymond Nels Nelson, American newspaper editor
- Rebecca J. Nelson, American biologist
- Red Nelson (baseball), American baseball player
- Red Nelson (musician), American singer
- Reeves Nelson, American basketball player
- Reggie Nelson, American football player
- Reggie Nelson (offensive tackle), American football player
- Reiss Nelson, English footballer
- Rensselaer Nelson, American judge
- Reuben N. Nelson, American lawyer and politician
- Rex Nelson, American sports broadcaster
- Rhett Nelson, American football player
- Rick Nelson (politician), member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
- Ricky Nelson, American singer-songwriter
- Ricky Nelson (baseball), American baseball player and manager
- Riki R. Nelson, American artist
- Riley Nelson, Canadian ice hockey player
- R. Kenton Nelson, American painter
- Rob Nelson, American biologist and documentary filmmaker
- Rocky Nelson, American baseball player
- Roland Nelson, English barrister
- Romeo Nelson, American pianist
- Rony Nelson, American football player
- Rosemary Nelson, Irish human rights solicitor
- Russ Nelson, American computer scientist
- Russell M. Nelson, American religious leader and surgeon
- Ryan D. Nelson, American judge
- Ryne Nelson, American baseball player
S
- Sa'eed Nelson, American basketball player
- Sam Nelson, American film director
- Sammy Nelson, Northern Ireland footballer
- Samuel Nelson, American attorney and judge
- Sandra Nelson, American actress
- Sandra Nelson (politician), American politician
- Sandy Nelson, American drummer
- Sandy Nelson (footballer), Australian rules footballer
- Sarah Jane Nelson, American actress
- Sarah Milledge Nelson, American archaeologist
- Scott Nelson, New Zealand race walker
- Scott Reynolds Nelson, American history professor
- SD Nelson, American illustrator
- Sean Nelson, American singer
- Sean Nelson (actor), American actor
- Seth Iredell Nelson, American pioneer
- Shara Nelson, English singer-songwriter
- Sharon Nelson, American politician
- Shaun Nelson, Australian politician
- Sheffield Nelson, American attorney
- Sheila Nelson, English violin and viola teacher
- Sheila Nelson (politician), American politician
- Shelley Nelson, English singer-songwriter
- Shiloh Nelson, American actress
- Shimona Nelson, Jamaican netball player
- Shirley Nelson, American author
- Shirley Collie Nelson, American singer
- Sid Nelson, English footballer
- Sidney Nelson, English composer
- Simeon Nelson, Australian sculptor
- Simon Nelson, American murderer
- Socrates Nelson, American politician and businessman
- Sonny Boy Nelson, American musician
- Sophia A. Nelson, American journalist
- Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, American journalist
- Spencer Nelson, American-Azerbaijani basketball player
- Spike Nelson, American football player and coach
- Stace Nelson, American politician
- Stacey Nelson, American softball player
- Stan Nelson, Canadian politician
- Stanley Nelson Jr., American documentary filmmaker
- Steady Nelson, American musician
- Stephen Nelson (sportscaster), American sportscaster
- Stephen L. Nelson, American author
- Steven Nelson, American football player
- Stewart Nelson, American mathematician and programmer
- Stuart Nelson, English footballer
- Sue Nelson, British writer
- Susan B. Nelson, American environmental activist
- Susan Richard Nelson, American lawyer and judge
- Syd Nelson, American politician
T
- Tara Nelson, Canadian television journalist
- Tasha Nelson, American alpine skier
- Taylor Nelson, Canadian ice hockey player
- Ted Nelson, American pioneer of information technology, philosopher, and sociologist
- Ted Nelson (track and field), American track and field athlete and coach
- Ted S. Nelson, Guamanian politician
- Teddy Nelson, Norwegian singer
- Telena Cruz Nelson, Guamanian politician
- Tex Nelson, American baseball player
- Thérèse Nelson, American chef
- Thor Nelson, American ice hockey player
- Tia Nelson, American activist
- Timna Nelson-Levy, Israeli Olympic judoka
- Tori Nelson, American boxer
- Trapper Nelson, American trapper
- Travis Nelson (politician), American politician
- Travis Nelson (actor), Canadian actor
- Trevor Nelson, British disc jockey
- Truman J. Nelson, American writer
- Tyka Nelson, American singer
- Tyrone Nelson, American basketball player
V
- Valentine Nelson, Papua New Guinean footballer
- Van Nelson, American long-distance runner
- Victor Folke Nelson, Swedish-American writer
- Vinceroy Nelson, Kittitian footballer
- Violet Nelson, Canadian actress
W
- Waldo Nelson, American pediatrician
- Wallace Nelson, Australian politician
- Wallwood Nelson, Jamaican cricketer
- Wally Nelson, American civil rights activist
- Walter Nelson, American guitarist
- Warren Nelson, American entrepreneur
- Wayne Nelson, American musician
- Wes Nelson, English television personality
- W. Grant Nelson, American politician
- Wilbur Nelson, American radio broadcaster
- Willie Nelson, American singer
- Wolfred Nelson, Canadian politician
Y
- Yvonne Nelson, Ghanaian actress
Z
- Zach Nelson, American business executive
- Zion Nelson, American football player
- Zita Nelson, Spanish-Argentine soprano
Disambiguation pages
A
- Alan Nelson (disambiguation)
- Albert Nelson (disambiguation)
- Alfred Nelson (disambiguation)
- Andrew Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ann Nelson (disambiguation)
- Anthony Nelson (disambiguation)
- Arthur Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ashleigh Nelson (disambiguation)
B
- Barry Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ben Nelson (disambiguation)
- Bert Nelson (disambiguation)
- Bill Nelson (disambiguation)
- Bob Nelson (disambiguation)
- Bobby Nelson (disambiguation)
- Brad Nelson (disambiguation)
- Brett Nelson (disambiguation)
- Brian Nelson (disambiguation)
- Bruce Nelson (disambiguation)
C
- Candice Nelson (disambiguation)
- Carl Nelson (disambiguation)
- Carolyn Nelson (disambiguation)
- Charles Nelson (disambiguation)
- Chris Nelson (disambiguation)
- Christopher Nelson (disambiguation)
- Colin Nelson (disambiguation)
- Craig Nelson (disambiguation)
D
- Daniel Nelson (disambiguation)
- Drew Nelson (disambiguation)
- David Nelson (disambiguation)
- Dennis Nelson (disambiguation)
- Don Nelson (disambiguation)
- Donna Nelson (disambiguation)
- Dorothy Nelson (disambiguation)
E
- Earl Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ed Nelson (disambiguation)
- Edmund Nelson (disambiguation)
- Edward Nelson (disambiguation)
- Edwin Nelson (disambiguation)
- Eric Nelson (disambiguation)
- Erik Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ernest Nelson (disambiguation)
F
G
- Gary Nelson (disambiguation)
- George Nelson (disambiguation)
- Grant Nelson (disambiguation)
- Greg Nelson (disambiguation)
- Gregory Nelson (disambiguation)
- Gunnar Nelson (disambiguation)
H
- Harold Nelson (disambiguation)
- Harry Nelson (disambiguation)
- Helen Nelson (disambiguation)
- Henry Nelson (disambiguation)
- H. G. Nelson (disambiguation)
- Homer Nelson (disambiguation)
- Horatio Nelson (disambiguation)
- Howard Nelson (disambiguation)
- Hubert Nelson (disambiguation)
- Hugh Nelson (disambiguation)
I
J
- Jack Nelson (disambiguation)
- James Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jeff Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jennifer Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jessica Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jessie Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jim Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jimmy Nelson (disambiguation)
- John Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jon Nelson (disambiguation)
- Jonathan Nelson (disambiguation)
- Joseph Nelson (disambiguation)
- Joshua Nelson (disambiguation)
- Julie Nelson (disambiguation)
K
- Keith Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ken Nelson (disambiguation)
- Kenneth Nelson (disambiguation)
- Kyle Nelson (disambiguation)
L
M
- Mark Nelson (disambiguation)
- Martha Nelson (disambiguation)
- Matt Nelson (disambiguation)
- Michael Nelson (disambiguation)
- Miriam Nelson (disambiguation)
N
P
- Patrick Nelson (disambiguation)
- Paul Nelson (disambiguation)
- Peter Nelson (disambiguation)
- Philip Nelson (disambiguation)
R
- Ray Nelson (disambiguation)
- Richard Nelson (disambiguation)
- Robert Nelson (disambiguation)
- Roger Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ron Nelson (disambiguation)
- Roy Nelson (disambiguation)
- Russell Nelson (disambiguation)
- Ruth Nelson (disambiguation)
S
- Sara Nelson (disambiguation)
- Shane Nelson (disambiguation)
- Shawn Nelson (disambiguation)
- Steve Nelson (disambiguation)
T
- Ted Nelson (disambiguation)
- Terry Nelson (disambiguation)
- Thomas Nelson (disambiguation)
- Tim Nelson (disambiguation)
- Todd Nelson (disambiguation)
- Tony Nelson (disambiguation)
- Tracy Nelson (disambiguation)
- Tyler Nelson (disambiguation)
W
Lists of Nelsons by title
- Admiral Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Admirals surnamed "Nelson"
- General Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Generals surnamed "Nelson"
- Governor Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Governors surnamed "Nelson"
- Judge Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Judges surnamed "Nelson"
- Justice Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Justices surnamed "Nelson"
- Lady Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Ladies surnamed "Nelson"
- Lord Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Lords surnamed "Nelson"
- Major Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Majors surnamed "Nelson"
- Senator Nelson (disambiguation), a disambiguation page for Senators surnamed "Nelson"
Fictional characters
- Alice Nelson, a character in the show The Brady Bunch
- Brody Nelson, a character in the show CSI: Cyber
- Christine Nelson, a character in the Degrassi franchise
- Foggy Nelson, a character in series Marvel Comics
- Storm Nelson, a character in the British comic strip Eagle
- Victoria "Vicki" Nelson, a character in the book Blood Price
- Nick Nelson, a character in the graphic novel and Netflix show ''Heartstopper''