Contents [hide]

Addison History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Addison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Addison literally means "son of Addie" or "son of Addy" from the diminutive of Adam. 1 2 One source believes the name could have meant "the son of Ada or Adda (noble cheer)." 3

Early Origins of the Addison family

The surname Addison was first found in the Northern English and Scottish Borders. It is generally thought that the first record of the name was found on the English side in Yorkshire: John Addisone in 1308. Years later, Robert Addesone was also found in Yorkshire in 1498. 1

Across the border in Scotland, the name was fairly common "in the eastern counties from Linlithgow to Aberdeen." 4 In this case, Alicia relict of quondam Johannes filius Ede de Colly was granted four acres of land on the north side of the town of Colly in 1367. Three years later, William Adison was rector of Luss in 1370 and a few years after that, Gilbert filius Ade was a tenant of the Douglases in the barony of Kylboucho in 1376. 4

Early History of the Addison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Addison research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1308, 1415, 1430, 1436, 1443, 1449, 1505, 1538, 1580, 1611, 1632, 1672, 1673, 1683, 1684, 1703, 1709 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Addison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Addison Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Addison occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Addison, Addeson, Addesoun, Adieson, Adison, Edison and many more.

Early Notables of the Addison family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

John Addison (fl. 1538), English divine, a native of the diocese of York, who was admitted to a fellowship at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, in 1505. 5
Joseph Addison (1672-1719), was an English essayist, poet, and statesman, son of Lancelot Addison (1632-1703), Dean of Lichfield. 5
Gulston Addison (1673-1709) was an English diplomat, President of Madras (1709); Reverend Lancelot Addison (1632-1703), was English Dean of Lichfield (1683) and Archdeacon of Coventry (1684); and his...

Addison Ranking

In the United States, the name Addison is the 1,872^nd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Addison family to Ireland

Some of the Addison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Addison migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Addison, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Addison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Addison, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 7
Tho Addison, who landed in Virginia in 1634 7
Alexander Addison, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 7
William Addison, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 7
lone Addison, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Addison Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Addison, who arrived in Georgia in 1735 7
Edward Addison, who landed in Georgia in 1740 7
Robert Addison, who arrived in Maryland in 1743 7
John Addison, aged 26, who landed in New York in 1774 7
Nicholas Addison, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1776 7

Addison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Tho Addison, who landed in America in 1805 7
Miss Addison, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 7

Addison Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. James Addison, (b. 1879), aged 25, Cornish baker, from Helston, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th October 1904 en route to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA 8
Mr. James Addison, (b. 1879), aged 25, Cornish baker, from Helston, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "arabic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th October 1904 en route to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA 8

Addison migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Addison Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Addison, who arrived in Canada in 1791

Addison Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Willis Addison, who landed in Canada in 1834

Addison migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Addison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Addison, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. William Addison, British convict who was convicted in Lancaster, England for life, transported aboard the "Henry Tanner" on 27th June 1834, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Thomas Plummer Addison, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 11
Eliza Mary Addison, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 11
Sarah Addison, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Addison migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Addison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. George Addison, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 12
Mr. George Addison, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 12
Mrs. Addison, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 12
William Addison, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863
William Addison, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Timaru" in 1870
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Addison migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Addison Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Matthew Addison, who settled in St. Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635
Mathew Addison, aged 17, who arrived in St Christopher in 1635 7
Mr. Mathew Addison, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 14
William Addison, settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Addison (post 1700) +

Walter Dulany Addison (1769-1848), American Episcopal clergyman, Chaplain of the United States Senate (1810–1811)
Tom Addison (1936-2011), American AFL football linebacker
S. T. Addison, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1900 15
Robert A. Addison, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1965; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1968 15
Marion W. Addison, American Democratic Party politician, Independent Democratic Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 11th District, 1904 15
M. D. Addison, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alabama, 1960 15
John Addison, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Ulster County, 1795-96; Member of New York State Senate Middle District, 1797-1800 15
Henry Addison, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 1861-65 15
Glenn Addison, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Senator from Texas, 2012 15
George D. Addison, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Dent County, 1927-28 15
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Addison family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Roy Hilton Addison (1919-1941), Australian Acting Leading Seaman from Sans Souci, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 16

HMS Repulse

Mr. John C Addison, British Ordnance Coder, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 17

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/henry-tanner
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PestonjeeBomanjee.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html