Davidson is a patronymic surname, meaning "son/descendant of David" (or "Beloved Son/Descendant"; 'David' lit. "Beloved One"). In the Highlands of Scotland, where the surname is an anglicised version of the Gaelic "mac Daibhidh", Clan Davidson was traditionally a sept of the Clan Chattan Confederation. There are alternate spellings, including those common in the British Isles and Scandinavia: Davidsen, Davisson, Davison, Daveson, Davidsson. While the given name comes from the Hebrew "David", meaning beloved, Davidson is rarely used as a masculine given name or nickname.
Surname Notable people with the surname Davidson include:
A–D Adam Davidson (disambiguation) Alan Davidson (disambiguation) Alan Keith Davidson (1929–2021), Australian cricketer Alan Davidson (food writer) (1924–2003), British diplomat, historian and food writer Alan Davidson (Scottish footballer) (born 1960), Scottish footballer Alan Douglas Davidson, Australian pilot; first Qantas death Alan Edward Davidson (born 1960), Australian soccer player Alexander Davidson (disambiguation), several people, including: Alexander Davidson (architect) (1839–1908), Scottish architect Alex Davidson (Australian footballer), Australian rules footballer Alex Davidson (rugby league), rugby league player Allan Davidson (disambiguation) Scotty Davidson Allan "Scotty" Davidson (1890–1915), Canadian hockey player Allen Turner Davidson (1819–1905), American politician Amy Davidson (born 1979), American actress Andrew B. Davidson (1831–1902), Scottish Hebrew scholar Andy Davidson (disambiguation) Anstruther Davidson (1860–1932), Scottish-American physician and botanist Anthony Davidson (born 1979), British racing driver Arnold Davidson, American philosopher Arthur Davidson (disambiguation) Austin Quinn-Davidson (born 1979), American politician Avram Davidson (1923–1993), American science fiction writer Basil Davidson (1914–2010), English historian of Africa Ben Davidson (1940–2012), American football player Bessie Davidson (1879–1965), Australian painter Bill Davidson (disambiguation), several people, including: Bill Davidson (American football, born 1915) (1915–1970), American football player Bill Davidson (American football, born 1935) (1935–1999), American football player and coach Bill Davidson (baseball) (1884–1954), outfielder in Major League Baseball (1909–1911) Bill Davidson (businessman) (1923–2009), American business and professional sports executive Bill Davidson (rugby league) (fl. 1914–1923), New Zealand rugby league player Bill Davidson, (1948–2004), Canadian rock climber, known as Kayak Bill Bo Davidson, (born 2002), American baseball player Bob Davidson (ice hockey), Canadian hockey player Bob Davidson (umpire), baseball umpire Brandon Davidson, (born 1991), Canadian ice hockey player Bruce Davidson (equestrian), American equestrian Bruce Davidson (photographer) (born 1933), American photographer Cameron Davidson (photographer) (born 1955), American photographer Callum Davidson, Scottish football player and coach Carolyn Davidson, designed the Nike swoosh Charles Davidson (disambiguation), multiple people Charlie Davidson (born 1972), American football player Chris Davidson (disambiguation), multiple people Chy Davidson (born 1959), American football player Cotton Davidson (1931–2022), American football player David Davidson (disambiguation), several people Davidson (Essex cricketer), English cricketer playing 1784–1787 Dean Davidson (born 1985), Speedway race car driver Della Davidson (1951–2012), American modern dancer and choreographer Di Davidson (born Dianne Davidson), Australian academic administrator; former Deputy Chancellor and Acting Chancellor of the University of Adelaide DJ Davidson (born 1997), American football player Donald Davidson (disambiguation), several people, including: Donald Davidson (historian), British-born Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson (philosopher) (1917–2003), American philosopher Donald Davidson (poet) (1893–1968), American poet Doug Davidson (born 1954), American actor Duncan Davidson (1941–2025), British businessman
E–L Eileen Davidson (born 1959), American actress Ella Henrietta Davidson (1851–1939), American philanthropist Ellis A. Davidson (1828–1878), British art writer and lecturer Eric H. Davidson (1937–2015), American biologist Ernest R. Davidson (born 1936), American chemist Frances Davidson, Viscountess Davidson (1894–1985), British politician Frankie Davidson (1934–2022), Australian singer and entertainer George Davidson (disambiguation), multiple people Gideon Davidson (born 2006), American football player Greg Davidson (born 1970), Australian cricketer Greg Davidson (American football) (born 1958), American football player Gustav Davidson (1895–1971), American poet and angelologist Harold Davidson (1875–1937), English defrocked clergyman Harriet Miller Davidson (1839–1883), Scottish-Australian novelist Brigadier General Henry Brevard Davidson (1831–1899), American Civil War, Confederate Army Hilda Ellis Davidson (1914–2006), English antiquarian and mythographer Hollie Davidson (born 1992), Scottish rugby union referee Hugh Davidson (disambiguation) Ian Davidson (British politician) (born 1950), Scottish politician Inger Davidson (born 1944), Swedish politician I. Irving Davidson, American arms dealer, political middleman and lobbyist Jack Davidson (1875–1952), Australian rules footballer Jack Davidson (Scottish footballer) (born 1925), Scottish footballer (East Fife FC) James Dale Davidson, American founder of the National Taxpayers Union James Davidson (disambiguation) James Edward Davidson Australian founder of News Limited Jane Davidson (born 1957), Welsh politician Jared Davidson (born 2002), Canadian ice hockey player Jaye Davidson (born 1968), British actor Jazzy Davidson (born 2006), American basketball player Jim Davidson (disambiguation), several people, including: Jim Davidson (born 1953), English comedian Jo Davidson, American sculptor John Andrew Davidson (1852–1903), Canadian politician John Davidson (disambiguation), several people, including: John Davidson (entertainer) (born 1941), American actor, host of the game show Hollywood Squares John Davidson (ice hockey) (1912–1996), a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player John Davidson (poet) (1857–1909), Scottish poet and playwright John Davidson, 1st Viscount Davidson, earlier known as John Colin Campbell Davidson,(1889–1970), British politician John Ogilvie Davidson, Canadian packer, guide and rancher, known as "Skook" Davidson Major General John Davidson (general) John "Black Jack" Davidson (1825–1881), Mexican–American War Jonathan Davidson, British civil engineer and soldier Kevin Davidson (born 1997), American football player Lauren Davidson (born 2001), Scottish footballer Leslie Davidson (1850–1915), Scottish cricketer and soldier Lionel Davidson (1922–2009), English novelist Logan Davidson (born 1997), American baseball player
M–R Majel Davidson (1885–1969), Scottish artist Margaret Davidson (suffragist) (1879–1978), Scottish suffragist, teacher and WW1 nurse Dame Margaret Davidson (1871–1964), British wife of colonial governor of New South Wales, Australia Margaret A. Davidson (1950–2017), American lawyer and coastal science pioneer Marlon Davidson (born 1998), American football player Marie Davidson (born 1987), French-Canadian electronic musician Mary Davidson (disambiguation) Matthew Davidson (disambiguation) Max Davidson (1875–1950), German-born film comedian Melody Davidson, Canadian hockey coach Michael Davidson (poet) (born 1944), American poet Michael Davidson (singer) (born 1969), singer and songwriter Mike Davidson (politician), New Zealand member of parliament Mike Davidson (swimmer) (born 1963), New Zealand freestyle swimmer Murray Davidson, Scottish football player Neil Davidson, Baron Davidson of Glen Clova, Scottish lawyer Nora Fontaine Davidson (1836–1929), American teacher Norman Davidson (biochemist) (1911–1972), Scottish biochemist and molecular biologist. Ogunlade Davidson, Sierra Leonean academic Osha Gray Davidson (born 1954), American writer Owen Davidson (1943–2023), Australian tennis player Patricia Davidson (Canadian politician) (born 1946), Canadian politician Paul Davidson (disambiguation) Penina Davidson (born 1995), New Zealand basketball player Pete Davidson (born 1993), American stand-up comedian Philip Davidson (1882–unknown), American gangster Phillip Davidson (1915–1996), American lieutenant-general Randall Davidson (1848–1930), 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth, Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Davidson (born 1951), American scientist Richard K. Davidson (1942–2026), American railway executive Richard M. Davidson (actor) (born 1940), Canadian-American actor and audiobook narrator Richard M. Davidson (theologian), Old Testament scholar Robert Davidson (disambiguation) Robyn Davidson (born 1950), Australian writer Rollo Davidson (1944–1970), mathematician Ronald C. Davidson (1941–2016), physicist Ross Davidson (1949–2006), British actor Ross Davidson (footballer, born 1973), English footballer Ross Davidson (footballer, born 1989), English footballer Ross Davidson (footballer, born 1993), Scottish footballer
S–Z Samuel Davidson (1807–1898), Irish Biblical scholar Samuel Cleland Davidson (1846–1921), Irish inventor and founder of the Belfast Sirocco Works Shanice Davidson (born 2000), British trampoline gymnast Stewart Davidson (1886–1960), Scottish football player and coach Stuart Davidson (cricketer) (born 1972), Scottish cricketer Susan B. Davidson, American computer scientist Sven Davidson (1928–2008), Swedish tennis player Thomas Davidson (palaeontologist) (1817–1885), Scottish-British palaeontologist Thomas Davidson (philosopher) (1840–1900), Scottish philosopher Tierna Davidson (born 1998), American soccer player Tommy Davidson (born 1963), American actor Thomas Randall Davidson (1747–1827), Church of Scotland minister True Davidson (1901–1978), Canadian mayor Tucker Davidson (born 1996), American baseball player W. K. Davidson (1904–1974), American politician and businessman Walter Edward Davidson (1859–1923), Colonial governor of the Seychelles, Newfoundland, New South Wales Walter Davidson Sr. (one of the founders of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company) Will Davidson, UK footballer active in the 1890s William Davidson (disambiguation), several people, including: William Davidson (bishop) (1919–2006), bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas Bill Davidson (businessman) (1922–2009), Michigan businessman and sports team owner William Davidson Institute, University of Michigan, named in honor of Bill Davidson William Davidson (British Columbia politician) (fl. 1867–1907), Scottish-born miner and political figure William Davidson (congressman) (1778–1857), member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina William Davidson (conspirator) (1781–1820), African Caribbean revolutionary William Davidson (engineer) (1844–1920), Australian civil engineer William Davidson (filmmaker) (1928–2009), Canadian filmmaker and TV creator William Davidson (lumberman) (1740–1790), Scottish settler in Canada William Davidson (MCC cricketer) (1811–1894), English cricketer William Davidson (Pennsylvania representative) (1783–1867), Pennsylvania politician William Davidson (sailor) (1876–1939), British competition sailor William Davidson (Sussex cricketer) (1920–2015), English cricketer Sir William Davidson of Curriehill (1614/15–c. 1689), Scottish merchant and member of the Privy council William Davidson Bissett (1893–1971), Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross William A. Davidson, one of the founders of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company William B. Davidson (1888–1947), American actor William H. Davidson (lieutenant governor) (fl. 1836–1838), Lieutenant Governor of Illinois William H. Davidson (motorcyclist) (1905–1992), American motorcycle racer and president of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles