Madison

An English surname originating as a matronymic; (US politics) used specifically of James Madison (1751–1836), a Founding Father and fourth president of the United States.

Proper noun

  1. An English surname originating as a matronymic; (US politics) used specifically of James Madison (1751–1836), a Founding Father and fourth president of the United States.
    • Clearly quite a number of past chief executives would have been TV washouts. Jefferson, for example, is acknowledged to have been a terrible public speaker, Madison an unimpressive little man in voice and appearance. -...
  2. A locale in the United States; all named for James Madison unless otherwise indicated.

    1. The capital city of Wisconsin, United States, and the county seat of Dane County.

    2. A city in Alabama.

    3. A city in Arkansas.

    4. A census-designated place in Yolo County, California; named for Madison, Wisconsin.

    5. A town in New Haven County, Connecticut.

    6. A city, the county seat of Madison County, Florida.

    7. A city, the county seat of Morgan County, Georgia.

    8. A city in Madison County and St. Clair County, Illinois.

    9. A city, the county seat of Jefferson County, Indiana.

    10. A minor city in Greenwood County, Kansas.

    11. A town in Somerset County, Maine.

    12. A city, the county seat of Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota; named for Madison, Wisconsin.

    13. A city in Mississippi.

    14. A city in Missouri.

    15. A city, the county seat of Madison County, Nebraska; named for its county, itself for James Madison.

    16. A town in Carroll County, New Hampshire.

    17. A borough in Morris County, New Jersey.

    18. A town in New York and a village within that town.

    19. A town in North Carolina.

    20. A village in Ohio; named for either James Madison or Madison, Connecticut.

    21. A borough in Pennsylvania.

    22. A city, the county seat of Lake County, South Dakota; named for Madison, Wisconsin.

    23. A town, the county seat of Madison County, Virginia; named for the landowning Madison family, of which James Madison is a descendant.

    24. A city, the county seat of Boone County, West Virginia.

    25. A town in Wisconsin, adjacent to the city of Madison (listed above).

    26. A number of townships in the United States, listed under Madison Township.

  3. A river in Wyoming and Montana, United States; named for James Madison.
  4. A male given name transferred from the surname.
  5. A female given name transferred from the surname, popular since 1984 when it appeared as the name of a mermaid in the film Splash.
    • Vanessa likes the ultrapopular Madison as a girl's name, which tells you everything you need to know about her personality. - 2007 December 3, Christy Lemire, “Review: "Juno" A Small Comic Charmer”, in CBS News:

Origin

Usually derived from Mathieson (Matthew + -son), occasionally from Middle English Maddy (“Maud”) + -son. In the movie Splash, its use as a given name derives from Manhattan’s Madison Avenue.

Forms

Madisons Maddison Madisyn Madyson

Derived

Fort Madison Madison County Madison Heights Madison Parish Madisonville

Noun

  1. A particular line dance commonly danced to the Ike & Tina Turner song Nutbush City Limits (though predating that song's release).
    • This dance with a familiar name is not to be confused with the Madison of a few years ago. The 1962 Madison is simply a twist on the Twist. [...] "The Madison was first introduced to Parisian teenagers from America by...
    • It's not everybody's shampoo and set, but the music, the humour and the dancing will strike a chord with all those old enough to remember Chubby Checker, The Madison and The Mashed Potato. - 1989 June 19, The Canberra...
  2. Alternative spelling of madison.

Forms

Madisons