Ellison

Ellison is a surname of English origin, a patronymic derived from Ellis with the diminutive or patronymic suffix -son, meaning “son of Ellis.” It is also used as a given name and is found among English-speaking populations in North America and elsewhere.

Notable people with the surname include Ralph Ellison (1913–1994), an American novelist best known for Invisible Man; Harlan Ellison (1934–2018), an American writer of speculative fiction; and Larry Ellison (born 1944), an American entrepreneur and co-founder of Oracle Corporation. Ellison has also been used as a given name; for example Ellison Onizuka (1946–1986), a U.S. astronaut.

Geography and places named Ellison include Ellison Bay, a village in Door County, Wisconsin. The name appears in other U.S. locations and geographic features as well, reflecting its use as a toponym in various regions.

In culture and other uses, Ellison may be encountered as a surname in historical and contemporary records, or as a given name in some instances. The form is closely related to Ellis, from which it originally derives, and variations or adaptations can be found in different English-speaking countries.