Contents [hide]

Soden History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Soden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Soden comes from when the family resided in an area that was referred to as the south down. The surname may also refer to the valley where the sows were kept. In either occasion the surname denotes a place-name in the county of Devon. 1

Early Origins of the Soden family

The surname Soden was first found in Devon at Sowton, a parish, in the union of St. Thomas, partly in the hundred of East Budleigh, but chiefly in that of Wonford. 2

The earliest record of the parish was in 1420, when it was recorded as Southton. Literally the place name means "south farmstead or village." Interestingly the place name was originally known as Clis 3 at the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, after the River Clyst. However, there is no known record as to why the name change took place. 4

Another source claims the name originated in Yorkshire where Alan Soldenc, Soldench was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 and 1175. Later, Roger le Soudan was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Yorkshire in 1208 and later again, Robert le Sowden was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire in 1279. 5

Early History of the Soden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Soden research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Soden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Soden Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Soden include Sowdon, Sowden, Sowton, Sowten and others.

Early Notables of the Soden family

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

Soden migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Soden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Isaac Soden, who arrived in Maryland in 1677 6

Soden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Maria Zum Soden, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 6
Authon Soden, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1894
Baby Soden, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
Annie Soden, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
Edward J. Soden, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1896

Soden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Henry Joseph Soden, aged 18, who settled in America from Dublin, in 1900
Jos. Soden, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1901
James Soden, aged 32, who landed in America from Kells, in 1901
Daphne Soden, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Cavan, in 1903
Edith Soden, aged 19, who settled in America from Leitrim, in 1905
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Soden migration to Australia +

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

Soden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Soden, English convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mrs. Anne Soden, (b. 1808), aged 47, Cornish housekeeper departing from Plymouth on 27th September 1854 aboard the ship "Birmingham" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 6th January 1855 8
Miss Ann Soden, (b. 1843), aged 12, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 27th September 1854 aboard the ship "Birmingham" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 6th January 1855 8
Mr. Thomas Soden, (b. 1848), aged 7, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 27th September 1854 aboard the ship "Birmingham" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 6th January 1855 8
Mr. Martin Soden, (b. 1849), aged 6, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 27th September 1854 aboard the ship "Birmingham" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 6th January 1855 8

Soden 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:

Soden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Emma Soden, (b. 1840), aged 24, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Soden (post 1700) +

Roy Soden, American politician, Representative from New York 24th District, 1946 10
Irving H. Soden, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1964 10
Harold R. Soden, American Republican politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 4th District; Elected 1960 10
Maura Anne Soden (b. 1955), American actress and producer
Arthur H. Soden (1845-1925), American executive in Major League Baseball, president and owner of the Boston Beaneaters
Frank Ormond "Mongoose" Soden DFC & Bar (1895-1961), Canadian-born, English First World War flying ace credited with 27 victories
Julius Freiherr von Soden (1846-1921), German colonial official and politician
Karl Soden Dietz, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 11th District, 1913 11

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html