Henson is a surname of English and Scottish origin. It is generally considered a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from a personal name. The name "Henson" is typically understood to be a shortened form of "Henry's son" or "Hann's son." Henry was a very popular given name in medieval Europe, and "Hann" was also a name used as a pet form of John or Johan. The "son" suffix indicates lineage.
The name can also be found as a variant spelling of Hinson.
Distribution of the name is found across the English-speaking world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Notable people with the surname "Henson" include:
- Jim Henson (1936–1990): An American puppeteer, animator, filmmaker, and the creator of The Muppets.
- John Henson (1967-2014): An American talk show host and comedian.
- Lisa Henson (born 1959): An American businesswoman and CEO of The Jim Henson Company.
- Matthew Henson (1866-1955): An American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on expeditions to the Arctic and is considered to be among the first people to reach the North Pole.
