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Surtees History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Surtees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Surtees family

The surname Surtees was first found in Durham where they were an ancient family, Barons of the Palatinate, who took their name from the residence Super Tysam, Sur Tees, Upon the river Tees, their chief seat being Dinsdale. 1 The principal male died out long ago, but younger branches of the family in recent generations have prospered. The Dinsdale property was lost but was repurchased in the late 1800s by the family.

Early History of the Surtees family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Surtees research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1300 and 1524 are included under the topic Early Surtees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Surtees Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Surtees, Surtes, Surties, Suyrtayse, Surteys and others.

Early Notables of the Surtees family

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

Surtees migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Surtees Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Surtees, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 2

Surtees Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

George Surtees, aged 27, who landed in America from Sewderland, England, in 1907
Hy Surtees, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States from Stockton on Tees, England, in 1907
John A. Surtees, aged 15, who landed in America from Worthing, England, in 1909
Frederick Surtees, aged 25, who immigrated to America from Sunderland, England, in 1910
William F. Surtees, aged 33, who landed in America from Blackhill, England, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Surtees migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Surtees Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Pearl Surtees, aged 33, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1923
Vivian Surtees, aged 12, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1923

Surtees 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:

Surtees Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss A. C. Surtees, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rakaia" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th August 1881 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Surtees (post 1700) +

Robert Surtees (1779-1834), English historian and antiquary of County Durham, the Surtees Society was founded following his death
Bruce Surtees (1937-2012), American Academy Award nominated cinematographer, best known for his work on Dirty Harry (1971), Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Robert Surtees (1906-1985), American three-time Academy Award winning cinematographer, perhaps best known for The Graduate (1967), Ben-Hur (1959) and The Sting (1973)
Robert Smith Surtees (1805-1864), English editor, novelist and sporting writer of an old Durham family, second son of Anthony Surtees (d. 1838) of Hamsterley Hall
Aubone Alfred Surtees (1865-1923), English rugby union forward who played for British Isles XV in 1891
John "Jack" Surtees (1911-1992), English professional footballer who played from 1930 to 1939
William Frederick Surtees (1871-1956), English Anglican bishop, Bishop of Crediton (1930-1954)
Allan Surtees (1924-2000), English actor, known for Rosie (1977), Eye of the Needle (1981) and Erik the Viking (1989)
Jack Surtees (1911-1992), English professional footballer
John Surtees M.B.E. (b. 1934), English former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver, founder of the Surtees Racing Organisation team
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Surtees 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: Mao mori quam foedori
Motto Translation: Death before dishonor

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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