Show ContentsAndrews History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Picts of ancient Scotland were the tribe of the ancestors of the Andrews family. The name Andrews is derived from the baptismal name Andrew which in Greek means manly. The name was popular as both a personal name and a surname, likely because it was the name of Scotland's patron saint. In Gaelic the name is Aindrea and Anndra which again means manly.

Early Origins of the Andrews family

The surname Andrews was first found in Caithness (Gaelic: Gallaibh), the northern tip of Scotland, a Norse/Viking controlled region from the 9th century, which became the Earldom of Caithness.

This family was strongly associated with the Clan Ross. It was originally known as the Clan Siol Andrea, meaning the race of Andrew. However, from about the year 1100 the Andrews moved south to the Dumfriesshire area of southwest Scotland. Duncan Andrew, Chief of the Clan, rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. 1

Some of the family were found further south in England, specifically at Shotley in Northumberland where "Shotley Hall is said to have been built by Dr. Andrews, physician to the first royal Duke of Cumberland." 2

Sir Edmund Andros (1637-1714) was born in London and rose to become an English colonial administrator in North America. The 1689 Boston revolt was directly attributed to his actions in New England.

Early History of the Andrews family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Andrews research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1395, 1463, 1510, 1537, 1600, 1604, 1637, 1649, 1650, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1666, 1672, 1674, 1714, 1890 and 1958 are included under the topic Early Andrews History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Andrews Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Andrews has been spelled Andrew, Andrews, MacAndrew, Androw, Androe, Andro and many more.

Early Notables of the Andrews family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • Alexander Andrew, Sergeant of Aberdeen; Phineas Andrews (ca. 1600-1661), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1661; and Sir Thomas Andrewes (died 1659), English financier...

Andrews World Ranking

In the United States, the name Andrews is the 183rd most popular surname with an estimated 134,298 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Andrews is ranked the 244th most popular surname with an estimated 16,529 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Andrews is the 48th popular surname with an estimated 481 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Andrews as 128th with 21,093 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Andrews as 115th with 3,815 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Andrews as 110th with 43,700 people. 8 South Africa ranks Andrews as 570th with 12,120 people. 9

Ireland Migration of the Andrews family to Ireland

Some of the Andrews family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Andrews migration to the United States +

In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Andrews:

Andrews Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Andrews, who landed in Virginia in 1609 10
  • William Andrews, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 10
  • William Andrews, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 10
  • Joakim Andrews, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 10
  • Jocomb Andrews, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1624 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Andrews Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Gideon Andrews, who landed in Virginia in 1700 10
  • Lydia Andrews, who landed in Virginia in 1702 10
  • Francis Andrews, who landed in Virginia in 1714 10
  • Lawrence Andrews, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 10
  • Anne Andrews, who settled in Maryland in 1720
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Andrews Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Andrews, who landed in America in 1805 10
  • Joseph Andrews, who landed in America in 1808 10
  • James Andrews, who landed in South Carolina in 1809 10
  • Charles C Andrews, who landed in New York in 1809 10
  • Gabriel Andrews, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Andrews Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Jason Andrews, (b. 1873), aged 30, Cornish gardener, from Penryn, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th February 1903 en route to Minnesota, USA 11
  • Mr. William Andrews, (b. 1871), aged 32, Cornish miner, from St. Just, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th June 1903 en route to Ironwood, Michigan, USA 11
  • Mr. William John Andrews, (b. 1883), aged 21, Cornish mason, from St. Stythians, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 2nd May 1904 en route to New York, USA 11
  • Mr. Frank Stanley Andrews, (b. 1879), aged 25, Cornish clerk travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th September 1904 en route to Chicago, Illinois, USA 11
  • Harry Konstantinos Andrews, who landed in Alabama in 1924 10

Canada Andrews migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Andrews Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • John Andrews, who settled in Port de Grave, Newfoundland before 1658 12
  • John, Francis, and Mary Andrews were descendants of a family who, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland before 1675
  • Elias Andrews was a boat keeper of Petty Harbour in 1681
Andrews Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Ambrose Andrews was in Petty Harbour in 1703
  • Edward Andrews, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • William Andrews, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • William Andrews, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Abraham Andrews, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Andrews Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Charles Andrews, who landed in Brigus, Newfoundland in 1809 12
  • Aaron Andrews was a planter of Hants Harbour, Newfoundland in 1826
  • Patrick Andrews, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
  • William Andrews, who arrived in Canada in 1834
  • Mr. Francis Andrews, aged 36 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Maria Somes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Andrews migration to Australia +

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

Andrews Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Andrews Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Andrews, British convict who was convicted in Southampton, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 15
  • Miss Ann Andrews, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Samuel Andrews, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. William Andrews, (b. 1766), aged 49, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for attempted murder, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1844 18
  • Mr. Jeremiah Andrews, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Andrews 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:

Andrews Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George Andrews, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • H J C Andrews, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Barque: Stains Castle
  • William Andrews, aged 42, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Bolton
  • William Andrews, aged 29, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • Eliza Andrews, aged 28, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Andrews (post 1700) +

  • Maurice Neil Andrews (1894-1967), American Democratic Party politician, Solicitor General, Rome Circuit, 1929-32; U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, 1942-46; U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, 1949-50 20
  • Frank Andrews (1894-1966), American Republican politician, Michigan; Member of Michigan State Senate 29th District, 1949-60 20
  • Charles Oscar Andrews (1877-1946), American Democratic Party politician, Judge of criminal court in Florida, 1910-11; Circuit Judge in Florida, 1919-25; Member of Florida State House of Representatives, 1925-27; U.S. Senator from Florida, 1936-46 20
  • Charles Bartlett Andrews (1834-1902), American Republican politician, Governor of Connecticut, 1879-81; Superior Court Judge in Connecticut, 1881-89; Chief Justice of Connecticut Supreme Court, 1889-1901 20
  • Arthur Glenn Andrews (1909-2008), American Republican politician, Chair of Calhoun County Republican Party, 1952; Candidate for Alabama State House of Representatives, 1956; Candidate for Secretary of State of Alabama, 1958 20
  • Mark Andrews (1926-2020), American politician, United States Senator from North Dakota (1981-1987)
  • Zebedee Andrews, American politician, Mayor of Cambridge, Maryland, 1908-10 20
  • William T. Andrews, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1935-48 (New York County 21st District 1935-44, New York County 12th District 1945-48) 20
  • William Shankland Andrews (1858-1936), American Republican politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 5th District, 1900-20; Judge of New York Court of Appeals, 1917-29; Delegate to New York convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 20
  • William S. Andrews, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Onondaga County 2nd District, 1954 20
  • ... (Another 213 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Danell Andrews (1963-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Detroit, Michigan, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 21
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Herbert John Andrews (1885-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 22
Halifax Explosion
  • Miss Aldora  Andrews (1909-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • Mrs. Emily Kate  Andrews (1864-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • Mrs. Ester Andrews, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • Miss May Margaret  Andrews (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • Mr. D. B.  Andrews, Canadian resident from Stewiake, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • ... (Another 5 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Arthur John Andrews (1913-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 24
HMS Cornwall
  • Leonard Thomas Cyril Andrews (d. 1942), British Cook aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 25
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Cecil V Andrews (b. 1911), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Portland, Dorsetshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Walter Graham  Andrews, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales May 1941 and died at the battle of Denmark Strait, before the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales 27
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Thomas R Andrews, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
  • Mr. T R Andrews, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
  • Mr. Joseph Andrews (b. 1919), English Leading Stoker from Walkden, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
HMS Royal Oak
  • Gerald Charles Andrews (1922-1939), born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, British Boy Telegraphist with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 29
  • Wilfred Edward Andrews (1922-1939), born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 29
  • George R. Andrews, British Corporal with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 29
  • Edward Herbert Andrews (1902-1939), born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, British Petty Officer Stoker with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 29
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Charles Edward Andrews (b. 1893), aged 19, English Assistant Second Class Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 16. He died in 1961 30
  • Mr. Thomas Andrews (d. 1912), aged 39, Irish Shipbuilder from Belfast, Ireland who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • Miss Kornelia Theodosia Andrews, aged 62, American First Class passenger from Hudson, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 10 30
  • Mr. Thomas Andrews (d. 1912), aged 39, Irish First Class passenger from Belfast, Northern Ireland and shipbuilder in charge of the plans for the ocean liner RMS Titanic who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Eric Rupert Andrews (b. 1919), Newfoundland passenger who was Royal Navy able bodied seaman from Wabana, Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking and died in 2007
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Stanley Andrews, Newfoundlander from Pound Cove, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. Timothy Andrews, Jamaican born American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Brainerd Wells Andrews, American Chief Carpenter's Mate from Vermont, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 31


The Andrews Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Victrix fortuna sapientia
Motto Translation: Wisdom is the conqueror of fortune.


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  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
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  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  12. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  13. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 12)
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  20. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, August 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  21. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  22. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  23. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  24. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  25. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  26. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
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  29. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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  31. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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