Masson is a surname form related to mason, meaning a stoneworker or builder.
Masson carries the heritage of one of the oldest skilled trades in human civilization. Rooted in the Old French "maçon" — itself derived from a Frankish word meaning one who builds with stone — the name belongs to the great family of occupational surnames that includes Mason, Masón, and Massone across European languages. Stonemasons were among the most respected craftsmen of the medieval world, responsible for the cathedrals, fortresses, and civic buildings that still define European skylines.
The Freemasons, the famous fraternal order, took their name and much of their symbolism from the stonemason's craft, lending this root an additional layer of mystique and brotherhood. As a surname turned given name, Masson has precedent in French history: André Masson was a celebrated Surrealist painter who worked alongside Picasso and Miró in interwar Paris, known for his automatist drawings that attempted to capture the unconscious mind on paper. The spelling with double-s gives Masson a distinctly French quality, distinguishing it from the more common anglicized Mason and lending it a subtle sophistication.
In French, the double-s creates a crisp, clean sound rather than the voiced z of the English version. In contemporary English-speaking naming culture, Masson represents a thoughtful choice for parents drawn to occupational surnames with artisanal character. The broader surge of Mason as a given name — it ranked among the top ten American boys' names for much of the 2010s — makes Masson a refined alternative that honors the same heritage while sidestepping the crowd. It is a name with the heft of a cornerstone and the elegance of a well-set arch.