Osborn (surname)

Osborn is a patronymic surname derived from the Old English first name Osbeorn and possibly the Old Norse name Ásbjörn, such as the Old Norman first name Osbern, carrying several meanings. The Old English origin is "God's Warrior" or God-bear as the name is derived from the elements "ōs" (god, divinity) and "beorn" (bear or warrior), interpreted as one blessed by God. The Old Norse origin is "Divine Bear" or "Godly Bear" from the Norse elements "ás" (god) and "bjorn" (bear), suggesting strength and divinity.

Fictional characters

Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, a fictional character from Spider-Man
- Harry Osborn, son of Norman Osborn
  - Normie Osborn, son of Harry Osborn
  - Liz Osborn, ex-wife of Harry Osborn

Literature and arts

Alex Faickney Osborn (1888–1966), American author
Daisy Osborn (1888–1957), New Zealand artist
John Jay Osborn, Jr. (1945–2022), American novelist, writer, and legal scholar
Paul Osborn (1901–1988), playwright and screenwriter
Robert C. Osborn (1904–1994), American satiric cartoonist, illustrator and author
Joe Osborn (1937–2018), American electric bass player

Military

Sir George Osborn, 4th Baronet (1742–1818), British military officer and MP, son of Danvers Osborn
Henry Osborn (Royal Navy officer) (1694–1771), naval officer and Commodore Governor of Newfoundland
John Robert Osborn (1899–1941), Canadian war hero
Philip Osborn, British air force officer and Chief of Defence Intelligence
Sherard Osborn (1822–1875), English military officer
Thomas W. Osborn (1833–1898), American military officer and politician

Politics

Albert L. Osborn (1858–1940), American state politician
Chase Osborn (1860–1949), American politician
Dan Osborn, American union leader and politician
Sir Danvers Osborn, 3rd Baronet (1715–1753), colonial governor of New York in 1753
David L. Osborn (1921–1994), United States ambassador
Sir John Osborn, 5th Baronet (1772–1848), English politician
Jones Osborn (1921–2014), American politician and newspaper editor
Laura Freele Osborn (1866–1955), American educator and politician
Sidney Preston Osborn (1884–1948), American politician
Steve Osborn, American politician

Science

Elburt F. Osborn (1911–1998), American geochemist
Francis C. Osborn, Sr. (1856–1926), American inventor
Frederick Osborn (1889–1981), American eugenicist
Henry Fairfield Osborn (1857–1935), American geologist and paleontologist
Herbert Osborn (1856–1954), American entomologist
Hugh Osborn, British physicist
John Jay Osborn, American physician
Mary Jane Osborn (1927–2019), American molecular biologist

Sports

Ben Osborn (born 1994) English footballer
Dan Osborn (baseball), American baseball player
Harold Osborn (1899–1975), American athlete
John Osborn (sailor) (born 1945), British Olympic sailor
K. J. Osborn (born 1997), American football player
Philip Osborn (swimmer), English swimmer

Others

Albert S. Osborn (1858–1946), American questioned document examiner
Arthur Osborn (murderer) (1905–1928), executed for the murder of Fred N. Selak, the Hermit of Grand Lake, Colorado
Denise R. Osborn, Australian and British economist
Derrill Osborn, American fashion executive
Eric Osborn (1922–2007), Australian theologian
Henry Fairfield Osborn, Jr. (1887–1969), American environmentalist
Howard J. Osborn (1918-1984), Former Director of Security at the CIA
John E. Osborn (lawyer) (born 1957), American lawyer, health care industry executive, diplomat
Samuel Osborn (surgeon) (1848–1936), British surgeon
Theodore Osborn (1887–1973), Professor of botany in Australia
William A. Osborn (born 1947), American banker
William Church Osborn (1862–1951), American philanthropist
William H. Osborn (1820–1894), 19th-century railroad tycoon