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Mason History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Mason History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Italy

The distinguished surname Mason can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Piedmont. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Piedmont is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Mason came from the first-name Maso, which is the short form of the personal name Tommaso. The name Tommaso, or Thomas, is itself derived from the Aramaic "toma" which means "twin".

Early Origins of the Mason family

The surname Mason was first found in Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte, Piedmontese and Occitan: Piemont) in the 13th century where early records show the Masini family, decedents of a long line of counts, lived and whose members included Oddone, elected captain of the commune in 1284, and Oddonnino, governor of a town, Vercelli, in 1290.

Early History of the Mason family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mason research. The years 1383 and 1401 are included under the topic Early Mason History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mason Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Mason include Masella, Maselli, Masellis, Masetti, Masetto, Masi, Masiello, Masillo, Masin, Masina, Masini, Masino, Masiol, Maso, Masolini, Masolo, Mason, Masoni, Masotti, Masselli, Massetti, Massini, Masucci, Masuccio, Masulli, Masullo, Masutti, Masutto and many more.

Early Notables of the Mason family

Prominent among members of the family was members of the Mason family from the Piedmontese tradition include Tommaso Guidi Masaccio, who was born in 1401, and is a painter known as the Father of Modern Art. He was a member of the Florentine school, and has works from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. He was a student of Masolino and under this master, aided in the frescoing of two churches: San Clemente in Rome and the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine at Florence. The Brancacci...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mason Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mason World Ranking

In the United States, the name Mason is the 135^th most popular surname with an estimated 169,116 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Mason is ranked the 237^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,898 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Mason is the 486^th popular surname with an estimated 97 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Mason as 105^th with 25,284 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Mason as 89^th with 4,259 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Mason as 79^th with 56,811 people. 6

Mason migration to the United States +

Immigrants bearing the name Mason or a variant listed above include:

Mason Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Mason, aged 40, who arrived in Virginia in 1613 aboard the ship "John & Francis" 7
Jon Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 7
Ann Mason, who landed in Virginia in 1621 7
Peter Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 7
Robert Homer Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elinor Mason, who landed in Virginia in 1701 7
Fra Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 7
Geo Mason, who landed in Virginia in 1704 7
Eliz Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 7
Cha Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Mason, who landed in America in 1801-1802 7
Maria Mason, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 7
Daniel Mason, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 7
Mad Mason, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 7
Rodding Mason, who landed in Texas in 1835 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mason Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Nathaniel Mason, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Isaac Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Robert Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Aaron Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Charles Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Mason, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Betty Mason, aged 46, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
Thomas Mason, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
James Mason, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
Catherine Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1843
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason migration to Australia +

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

Mason Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Sarah Mason, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Bellona" in July 1792, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. William Mason, Irish farmer who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 9
Mr. George Mason, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10

Mason Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Mason, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Alexander Mason, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Margaret Mason, (Moore), British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Mary Mason, British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Samuel Mason, British Convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason 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:

Mason Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Mason, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Dublin Packet" arriving in Cloudy Bay, South Island, New Zealand in 1838 13
Mr. Edward Thomas Mason, (b. 1818), aged 21, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 14
Mrs. Mason, (b. 1820), aged 19, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 14
Mrs. Mason, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl of Lonsdale" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand in 1840 13
Mr. Mason, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl of Lonsdale" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand in 1840 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason 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. 15

Mason Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Mason, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 16
Mr. Beniamin Mason, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 17
Mr. Richard Mason, (b. 1606), aged 29, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 18
Mr. John Mason, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship "Falcon" arriving in Barbados in 1636 17
Charles Mason, who settled in Barbados in 1654
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mason (post 1700) +

David Gray Mason (1942-1943), American politician elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives (1973-1977)
Jackie Mason (1928-2021), born Yacov Moshe Maza, an American stand-up comedian and film and television actor
Emily Mason (1932-2019), American abstract painter, daughter of Alice Mason
Marilyn May Mason (1925-2019), American concert organist, recording artist, and professor, from Alva, Oklahoma
Gina Marie Mason (1959-2017), née Crafts, an American politician, Member of the Maine House of Representatives (since 2017)
Anthony George Douglas Mason (1966-2015), American professional basketball player who played from 1988 to 2003
George Mason IV (1725-1792), American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, called the "Father of the Bill of Rights" and one of the "Founding Fathers" of the United States
Private First Class Leonard Foster Mason (1920-1944), American Marine awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944 for heroism during the Battle of Guam
Daniel Gregory Mason (1873-1953), American composer
William Mason (1829-1908), American musician
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mason family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Robert Mason (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 19

Bradford City stadium fire

Roy Mason (1911-1985), from Silsden who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire

Empress of Ireland

Master Howard Mason (d. 1914), English Third Class Passenger from Manchester, England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 20
Mrs. J. Mason (d. 1914), English Third Class Passenger from Manchester, England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 20

HMS Hood

Mr. Vernon R A Mason (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Malvern, Worcestershire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Hubert Mason, British Ordnance Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 22

North Sea Flood

Richard Mason, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Joseph Howard Mason, American 3rd Class passenger from Detroit, Michigan, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
Mrs. Leslie Hawthorne Mason, American 1st Class Passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA moving to Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 23
Mr. Stewart Southam Mason, English 1st Class Passenger from Ipswich, England returning to Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 23

RMS Titanic

Mr. Frank Archibald Robert Mason, aged 32, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on collapsible B 24
Mr. James Mason (d. 1912), aged 39, English Leading Fireman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24

SS Southern Cross

Mr. Elias Mason (b. 1914), Newfoundlander from Catalina who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

USS Arizona

Mr. Byron Dalley Mason, American Seaman Second Class from Idaho, 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 25

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bellona
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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 Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
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
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html