Tõnisson

Tõnisson is a surname of Estonian origin. It is a patronymic name formed from the given name Tõnis, the Estonian form of Anthony, with the suffix -son meaning “son of.” The form reflects historical naming patterns in the region and is most commonly found in Estonia.

Notable people bearing the name include Jaan Tõnisson, an Estonian politician and journalist who played a significant role in the country’s early 20th-century public life and the independence movement. The surname is associated with various figures in Estonian public, cultural, and academic circles, reflecting its presence in multiple facets of Estonian society.

The name is most prevalent in Estonia and among Estonian communities abroad, including the diaspora in Nordic countries and North America. As with many Estonian surnames, Tõnisson is part of a broader set of family names that reflect historic patronymic formation and the influence of neighboring linguistic traditions on Estonian naming practices.