Henderson (surname) facts for kids

The name Henderson is a family name that comes from Scotland. It means "son of Hendry," which is a Scottish way of saying "Henry." In the old Scottish language, Scottish Gaelic, the name for a boy would be MacEanraig, and for a girl, it would be NicEanraig.

Many different families in Scotland have the surname Henderson, even if they are not directly related. For example, the Hendersons from Fordell in Fife were a very important family in the Scottish Lowlands. They even had their own group, called Clan Henderson. Another group, the Hendersons of Glencoe, were part of Clan Donald. Their name also came from the Gaelic MacEanruig.

Before the 1600s, the Henderson name was not known in England. It was first mentioned in a marriage record between a Henderson from the Scottish Borders and a merchant's daughter in Carlisle, Cumbria.

What Does the Name Henderson Mean?

The name Henderson is a "patronymic" surname. This means it comes from a father's name. In this case, it means "son of Hendry." Hendry is a popular Scottish version of the name Henry. So, if your last name is Henderson, it means one of your ancestors was likely named Hendry or Henry!

Famous People Named Henderson

Many people with the surname Henderson have done amazing things! Here are just a few you might know:

Sports Stars

• Brooke Henderson (born 1997) is a Canadian golfer. She is one of the best young golfers in the world.
• Dan Henderson is a famous American martial arts fighter. He competed in mixed martial arts (MMA) for many years.
• Jordan Henderson (born 1990) is an English football player. He has played for big teams like Liverpool and for the England national team.
• Rickey Henderson (born 1958) was an American baseball player. He is known as one of the greatest leadoff hitters and base stealers in baseball history.

Music and Entertainment

• Fletcher Henderson (1897–1952) was an African-American jazz and swing musician. He was a very important bandleader and composer in the early days of jazz.
• Florence Henderson (1934–2016) was an American television actress. She was famous for playing Carol Brady in the TV show The Brady Bunch.
• Ella Henderson is a British singer. She became famous after appearing on a TV talent show.
• Martin Henderson is a New Zealand actor. He has been in many movies and TV shows, including Grey's Anatomy.

Important Historical Figures

• Arthur Henderson (1863–1935) was a British union leader and politician. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 for his work on disarmament and peace.
• Archibald Henderson (1783–1859) was the fifth leader of the United States Marine Corps. He served for a very long time, helping to shape the Marines.
• Donald Henderson (1928–2016) was an American doctor and scientist. He led the World Health Organization's successful effort to get rid of Smallpox around the world. This was a huge achievement in medicine!

Fictional Characters Named Henderson

You might also find Hendersons in your favorite stories and shows:

• Christopher Henderson (character) is a character from the TV series 24.
• Dustin Henderson is a popular character from the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. He is known for his smart ideas and funny personality.
• Rose Henderson (married name Nadler) is a character in the TV series Lost.
• Inspector Henderson is a character from DC Comics.
• General James Henderson is a character from the TV series UFO.
• Isaac Henderson is a character from The Mummy (1999 film).

See also

• Clan Henderson
• Fenderson
• All pages with titles beginning with Henderson
• All pages with titles containing Henderson