United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)
"Thomas Edison was a brilliant United States inventor whose groundbreaking work included creating the phonograph, the incandescent electric light bulb, the microphone, and the Kinetoscope."
An English patronymic or matronymic (or just pamatronymic) surname derived from Adam and Edith.
"The genealogy researcher was fascinated by how the Edison family name originated as a patronymic derived from their ancestors Adam and Edith."
Edison is a nickname derived from the given name Edison, which literally means "son of Edward." The word entered English usage as a familiar form for Thomas Alva Edison rather than originating as an independent surname with that specific meaning.