Richardson

Richardson is a surname of English origin that means "son of Richard". It is derived from the Old German given name Ricohardus, which is composed of the elements ric, meaning "power" or "strong", and hard, meaning "brave" or "hardy". The surname Richardson was first recorded in the early 14th century, when John Richardson was listed in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York. Over time, various branches of the Richardson family have spread throughout England and other parts of the world. In the United States, Richardson is one of the most common surnames, ranking among the top 200 most popular names. It has also been carried to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa by early settlers from Britain. Some notable people with the surname Richardson include the American actors Natalie Wood (born Natasha Gurdin) and David Lynch, as well as the English footballer Danny Richardson. Additionally, the Canadian author Mordecai Richler was born Maurice Edwin Richter before changing his name to Richardson.