Peterson (surname)
Peterson/'Petersen' is a Scandinavian and English patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter." The given name Peter is derived from the Greek πέτρος, 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 UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Brussels in the northwestern region. There are an estimated 700 variant spellings of the surname. 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.
List of people with this surname
- Adrian Peterson, American football running back
- Adrian N. Peterson, American football running back
- Alexis Peterson, American/German basketball player
- Amanda Peterson, American actress
- Andrew Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ann Peterson, American Olympic diver
- Arthur Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brian Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Carla Peterson (actress), Argentinian actress
- Cassandra Peterson, American actress best known for her screen persona "Elvira"
- Charles Peterson, multiple people
- Christine Peterson, American forecaster
- Clark Peterson,, film producer
- Chip Peterson,, American swimmer
- Collin Peterson, American politician, congressman from Minnesota
- Coyote Peterson American YouTuber and Brave Wilderness Presenter
- Daniel Peterson, multiple people
- David Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Daystar Peterson, Canadian rapper and singer known professionally as Tory Lanez
- Debbi Peterson, American singer
- Denis Peterson, American painter
- Donald H. Peterson, former American NASA astronaut
- Donald M. Peterson, WW1, and WW2 veteran, sergeant, bronze star recipient
- Donna C. Peterson, American politician and educator
- Dorothy Peterson, American actress
- Douglas Peterson, multiple people
- Drew Peterson, American former Illinois police sergeant and convicted murderer
- Dustin Peterson, American baseball player
- Dutton S. Peterson, New York clergyman and politician
- Elly M. Peterson American, Michigan politician
- Elmer Peterson, American farmer and politician
- Elmer Peter Peterson, American electrician and politician
- Eric Peterson, Canadian actor
- Eric Peterson (musician), American guitarist
- Erik Peterson (theologian), German theologian
- Esther Peterson, American, Assistant Secretary of Labor
- Eugene H. Peterson, American Presbyterian minister, scholar, theologian, author, and poet
- Fiona Peterson, Australian academic
- Frank Peterson, German music producer
- Franklin P. Peterson, American mathematician
- Frederick Peterson (neurologist), American neurologist, psychiatrist, and poet
- Fritz Peterson, American baseball player
- Garry Peterson, American drummer
- George P. "Bud" Peterson, president, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Gil Peterson, American actor and singer
- Gilbert Peterson, American Contractor
- Gilles Peterson, English DJ
- Gordon Peterson, American broadcast journalist
- Halvor H. Peterson, American farmer and politician
- Hannah Mary Bouvier Peterson, American writer
- Hattie Peterson, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Henry Peterson, American editor, novelist, playwright and poet
- Ivan Peterson, American veterinarian, scientific research for animals, worked with pet actors in Hollywood
- Jace Peterson, American baseball player
- Jeret Peterson, American aerial skier
- Jerome Peterson (disambiguation)
- Jesse Peterson, American Industrialist and Presidential Elector
- Jim Peterson, Canadian politician
- John Peterson (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jordan Peterson, Canadian psychologist, political pundit, author
- Jordan Peterson, American football coach
- Keith Peterson, Canadian politician
- Kevin Peterson, American football player
- Kristjan Jaak Peterson, Estonian poet
- Laci Peterson, American, murdered wife of Scott Peterson
- Lenka Peterson, 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, American actress
- Mark Peterson (disambiguation), several people
- Martha Peterson
- Maurice Peterson, British diplomat
- Michael Peterson (disambiguation)
- Minnie Peterson, Pioneerwoman, packer, guide, outfitter
- Morris Peterson, American basketball player
- Norm Peterson (politician), Australian politician
- Olive Peterson, American bridge player
- Oscar Peterson, Canadian jazz pianist and composer
- Oscar V. Peterson, American seaman in the US Navy
- Patrick Peterson, American football player
- Peter Peterson, multiple people
- Ralph Peterson, American jazz drummer and bandleader
- Randolph W. Peterson, American politician and judge
- Ray Peterson, American pop singer
- Rebecca Peterson, Swedish tennis player
- Robert Evans Peterson, American book publisher and writer
- Robin Peterson, South African cricketer
- Roger Peterson, multiple people
- Ronnie Peterson, Swedish racing driver
- Russell W. Peterson, American engineer and politician, governor of Delaware
- Scott Peterson, American convicted murderer
- Shelley Peterson, Canadian actress
- Stephen Peterson (rower), American world champion rower in 1990, 1996 Olympian
- Ted Peterson, writer and video game designer
- Thage G. Peterson, Swedish politician
- Thalia Gouma-Peterson, American professor
- Thomas Mundy Peterson, first African-American to vote in an election
- Thorleif T. Peterson, American farmer and politician
- Todd Peterson (place kicker), American football player
- Trudy Huskamp Peterson, American historian, former acting Archivist of the United States
- Vadal Peterson, American college sports coach
- Val Peterson, American, governor of Nebraska
- Vicki Peterson, American pop musician
- Walter R. Peterson, Jr., governor of New Hampshire
- W. Wesley Peterson, American mathematician and computer scientist
- William Peterson, multiple people
Fictional characters with this surname
- 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
- Fred and Gladys Peterson, characters from the American TV sitcom Get a Life
- 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''