Songster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Songster is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a person who was a singaere or musician. During the Middle Ages people were identified by the type of work one did and were referred to in this manner. The traveling musician was therefore named the singaere, and was a well known and respected figure in medieval times. He was the main entertainer at fairs and festivals and was also a source of news and idle gossip from the neighboring towns.

Early Origins of the Songster family

The surname Songster was first found in Devon where one of the first records of the name was Lucas le Syngere who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1296. The same rolls listed William le Syngur one year later in Yorkshire.

Early History of the Songster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Songster research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1594, 1602, 1678 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Songster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Songster Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Songster are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Songster include Singer, Singers, Singar and others.

Early Notables of the Songster family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Singer (fl. 1594-1602), an English actor and dramatist who was with Queen Elizabeth's company and the Admiral's (Lord Charles Howard...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Songster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Songster migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Songster or a variant listed above:

Songster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andrew Songster, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 1

Songster 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:

Songster Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William B. Songster, (b. 1855), aged 18, Scottish blacksmith travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th March 1874 2

The Songster 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: Fidelitas vincit
Motto Translation: Fidelity prevails.

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html