Judson is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the Old French name Jude, which itself comes from the Latin name Judah. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob in the Bible and was the ancestor of the tribe of Judah.
The meaning of Judson is believed to be "praised" or "praise". This interpretation comes from the Hebrew word "yadah", which means to praise or to cast forth. In some variations, Judson may also have the meaning of "praiseworthy".
There is not a great deal of historical information about individuals named Judson, likely due to its relative rarity throughout history. However, there are a few notable figures who bear this name.
One of the most famous Judsons was American poet Judson Crews, born in 1874. He was known for his works such as "The Ballad of the Sad Heart" and "In the Shadows".
Another notable figure is Judson Harmon, an American politician and lawyer who served as Governor of Ohio from 1890 to 1892.
Despite its rarity, Judson has been used consistently throughout history. It was not particularly popular in any specific period but has maintained a steady presence nonetheless. Today, it remains a unique and distinctive name choice for those looking for something different.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Judson in the United States:
* The popularity of the name Judson varied significantly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the highest number of births occurring in 1912 (68 births) and the lowest in 1933 (60 births).
* After World War II, the use of the name Judson began to decline. From 1947 onwards, the annual number of births named Judson did not exceed triple digits until 1970.
* There was a resurgence of the name Judson in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with over 100 births per year from 1980 onwards. The highest number of births since then occurred in 2022 and 2023, with 278 births each year.
* Overall, there have been a total of 13,387 births named Judson in the United States since record-keeping began.
These statistics demonstrate the ups and downs in popularity of the name Judson over time. Despite its fluctuations, it remains a unique and memorable name that has been chosen for thousands of babies born in the United States.