Nelson is a surname, also used as a given name. It is derived from a patronymic name created from the given name "Nell," or for the Irish, "Niall". The name is also listed as a baptismal name "the son of Eleanor". Nelson is also an anglicized version of the Scandinavian names Nilsen, Nielsen, and Nilsson. Within the United States, it is ranked as the 39th-most common surname of 88799 listed. Notable people with the surname "Nelson" include A A. C. Nelson (1864–1913), American educator Adam Nelson (born 1975), American shotputter Adolph Lincoln Nelson (1888–??), American inventor Adolphus Peter Nelson (1872–1927), American politician Adriana Nelson (born 1980), American long-distance runner Adrienne Nelson (born 1967), American lawyer and judge A. J. Nelson (born 1985), Ghanaian recording artist Al Nelson (born 1943), American football player Alberta Nelson (1937–2006), American actress Aleisha Nelson (born 1990), New Zealand rugby union player Alexis Nikole Nelson (born 1992), American chef Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875–1935), American poet Allison Nelson (1822–1862), American politician Alondra Nelson (born 1968), American writer Amy Nelson (born 1980), American lawyer Amy K. Nelson (born 1978), American journalist Anne Nelson (born 1954), American journalist Antonya Nelson (born 1961), American author Armando Melgar Nelson (born 1945), Guatemalan footballer Arnett Nelson (1892–1959), American musician Arvell Nelson (born 1988), American football player Aven Nelson (1859–1952), American botanist Avua-Siav Leo Nelson (born 1980), Russian footballer Azumah Nelson (born 1958), Ghanaian boxer B Baby Face Nelson (1908–1934), American gang member Battling Nelson (1882–1954), Danish-American boxer Beata Nelson (born 1998), American swimmer Bek Nelson (1927–2015), American model Benjamin Nelson (1911–1977), American sociologist Benny Nelson (born 1941), American football player Bertram Nelson (1905–1984), British accountant Beryce Nelson (born 1947), Australian politician Billie Nelson (1941–1974), British motorcycle racer Billy Bass Nelson (born 1951), American politician Blake Nelson (born 1965), American author Boycie Nelson (born 1974), New Zealand rugby league footballer Bradley Nelson (born 1962), American robotist Brady Nelson (born 1978), American businessman Brendan Nelson (born 1958), Australian politician Brett Nelson (born 1969), American musician Brittany Nelson (born 1984), American artist Brock Nelson (born 1991), American ice hockey player Brooklyn Nelson (born 2004), American actress Bryan Nelson (born 1958), American politician Bryant Nelson (born 1974), American baseball player Buck Nelson (1895–1982), American farmer Byron Nelson (1912–2006), American golfer C Caleb Nelson (born 1966), American law professor Caleb Azumah Nelson, British-Ghanaian writer Camille A. Nelson (born 1968), Canadian-Jamaican law professor Candace Nelson (born 1974), American