Jackson
JAK-sun
Jackson is an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Jack.” Jack is a medieval diminutive of John, from Hebrew “Yohanan” (God is gracious). The patronymic formed by the 14th century in northern English records.
The surname first appears in parish records from the late 1300s, concentrated in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where patronymic -son names were especially common.
As a given name, Jackson gained traction through Andrew Jackson (r. 1829-1837), the 7th U.S. president, whose populism made his surname a democratic symbol. His portrait on the $20 bill kept it visible.
What the name Jackson means
Musician Michael Jackson gave the surname additional global cultural weight throughout the late 20th century.
Jackson entered the U.S. top 100 in the 1990s. It peaked at No. 14 in 2021 with 9,279 births and settled at No. 35 in 2024 with 6,876.
The name has been especially favored in Southern U.S. states, where Andrew Jackson and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson carry distinct regional resonance that continues to influence naming patterns today.
Short form Jack holds independent top-50 status in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, creating an unusual feedback loop.
Variant spellings Jaxon and Jaxson emerged in the 2000s. Together, the 3 spellings form 1 of the most popular name-sound combinations of the entire 21st century.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Jackson
Jackson - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity
Ways to spell Jackson
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Jaxon | English phonetic variant |
| Jaxson | English phonetic variant |
| Jacson | Spelling variant |