Show ContentsAyson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Scotland, the ancestors of the Ayson family were part of a tribe called the Picts. The name Ayson is derived from Aythe where Aythe filius Thome received a charter of the lands of Fornochtis in Strathearn from Robert the Steward (later known as Robert II) around 1360. The next of the line was called Johem ayson iuuene. It can be seen how the surname Ayson is a derivative from "Aythe's son." The spelling and pronunciation changed over time, until it reached the modern form of Ayson and its variants.

Early Origins of the Ayson family

The surname Ayson was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where it was of the most ancient surnames in the region. They were connected with the Toschachs of Glentilt.

Early History of the Ayson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ayson research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1392, 1504 and 1681 are included under the topic Early Ayson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ayson Spelling Variations

The appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Ayson has been spelled Eason, Easson, Esson, Asson, Assone, Aysoune, Aison and many more.

Early Notables of the Ayson family

More information is included under the topic Early Ayson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Ayson family to Ireland

Some of the Ayson 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.


New Zealand Ayson 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:

Ayson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Douglas Laymond Ayson, Scottish settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [1]
  • Mr. Ayson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [1]
  • Miss. Ayson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [1]
  • Miss. Ann Ayson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [1]
  • Mr. William Ayson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ayson (post 1700) +

  • Leilani Ayson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Hawaii, 1972 [2]
  • Arthur Ayson, Philippine basketball player in the 1091 Philippine Basketball League season
  • Hon. Ruben C. Ayson, Philippine Associate Justice in the Court of Appeals (2008-2011)
  • Hugh Fraser Ayson CMG (1884-1948), New Zealand lawyer, judge and public administrator
  • Lake Falconer Ayson (1855-1927), New Zealand farm labourer, rabbit inspector, acclimatisation officer and fisheries inspector


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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