Davison is a patronymic surname, a contraction of Davidson, meaning "son of Davie (the pet form of David)". There are alternate spellings, including those common in the British Isles and Scandinavia: Davisson, Daveson, Davidsson, and Davidsen. It is also common as a French, Portuguese, Czech, and Jewish surname. The name was common among Norse–Gaels in the 10th century, and may have been of Norse Viking origin, given that it is a patronymic surname. Notable people with the surname Aidan Davison (born 1968), Northern Ireland footballer Alex Davison (born 1979), Australian racing driver Alexander Davison (1750–1829), British businessman, Nelson's prize agent Archibald Thompson Davison (1883–1961), American musicologist and educator Bennett Davison (born 1975), American basketball player Brian Davison (cricketer) (born 1946), Rhodesian-born cricketer and politician Brian Davison (drummer) (1942–2008), British musician Bruce Davison (born 1946), American actor Bryce Davison (born 1986), Canadian figure skater Christopher Davison (born 1948), birth name of British-Irish musician Chris de Burgh Dehenna Davison, British politician Edward Davison (poet) (1898–1970), British poet Emily Davison (1872–1913), British suffragette Frederick Trubee Davison (1896–1976), American CIA Director of Personnel, son of Henry P. Davison George Davison (photographer) (1854–1930), British photographer and business executive Gerald Davison (born 1943), British author, lecturer and Asian art specialist Gerald Davison (born 1939), American psychologist Henry P. Davison (1867–1922), American banker, founding father of the League of Red Cross societies James Davison (born 1986), Australian racing driver JD Davison (born 2002), American basketball player John Davison (disambiguation), several people John Biggs-Davison (1918–1988), British politician Lex Davison (1923–1965), Australian Grand Prix winner; grandfather of Alex Davison, Will Davison and James Davison Liam Davison (1957–2014), Australian author Mark Davison (born 1983), British composer (professionally known as Benson Taylor) Mathew Davison (1839–1918), American politician Mike Davison (born 1950), Canadian politician Mike Davison (baseball) (1945–2013), American baseball player Monkhouse Davison (1713–1793), British merchant (grocer) Paul Davison (born 1971), English professional snooker player Peter Davison (born 1951), British actor Peter Davison (poet) (1928–2004), American poet, son of Edward Davison Rob Davison (born 1980), Canadian hockey player Robert Davison (disambiguation), several people Roderic H. Davison (1917–1966), American historian of the Middle East Ronald Davison (1920–2015), New Zealand judge Rosanna Davison (born 1984), Irish model, crowned Miss World 2003 Teddy Davison (1887–1971), English footballer and manager Thomas Davison (1794–1826), British journalist and printer Wild Bill Davison (1906–1989), American jazz cornet player Will Davison (born 1982), Australian racing driver William Davison (disambiguation), several