Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Scottish : habitational name from a place in the parish of New Deer in Aberdeenshire. This was probably named with the Old English elements earn ‘eagle’ + sīde ‘side’ (of a hill).
  • English : possibly from Middle English irenside (Old English īren ‘iron’ + sīde ‘side’), a nickname for an iron-clad warrior. The best-known bearer of this nickname (not as a surname) was Edmund Ironside, who was briefly king of England in 1016.

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe