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Orson

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | 540 words | Copyright

Orson ♂ From a Norman French nickname meaning ‘bear-cub’ (a diminutive of ors ‘bear’, Latin ursus). This was occasionally used as a given name in the Middle Ages, but in modern times it probably represents a transferred use of the surname derived from the medieval nickname. Its most famous bearer of the 20th century was the American actor and director Orson Welles (1915–85), who dropped his more prosaic first name, George, in favour of his middle name before embarking on a career in films.

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Orson." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Orson." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Orson.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Orson." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Orson.html

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