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Show ContentsAdams History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Adams is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It is derived from "Adam," a given name which is itself derived from the Latin name "Adamus," meaning "earth."

The MacAdams "of Waterhead, co. Ayr, claim descent from the head of the Clan Macgregor; but the name was changed, early in the XVI. century, from Macgregor to Macadam, in consequence of political troubles." 1

Another source agrees with the postulation: "The family are descended from Adam Macgregor, grandson of Gregor Macgregor, chief of the clan Gregor." 2

However, our research has shown the family existed far before Adam Macgregror as we shall soon show. In fact, "The Macadams of Waterhead, Ayrshire, of whom John Loudon Macadam the famous road-builder was a member, claim to be descended from a Macgregor of the first half of the sixteenth century who fled to Ayrshire. Recently Mr. Roy Devereux, great-grandson of the roadbuilder, in a letter to the press says: 'During my researches for the biography of my ancestor which I am now writing I have found no evidence whatever in support of the tradition that the McAdams are descended from the McGregors.'" 3

Early Origins of the Adams family

The surname Adams was first found in Annandale, where they held a family seat at Kynemund and at Waterhead in the Stewartry of Kirkudbright.

"Adam of Caithness (d. 1222), Scottish bishop, was probably a native of the south of Scotland. The tradition is that he was a foundling exposed at the church door. He first appears in 1207, when we find that he, already prior of the Cistercians at Melrose, became abbot. " 4

The name is MacAdaim in Gaelic, denoting "son of Adam" and the first record was "Dolfinus mach Adam witnessed a charter by Ernaldus, bishop of St. Andrews, c. 1160-1162." 3 This is likely the same aforementioned "Adam of Caithness" mentioned above but the Latin form of the name was used for this entry.

Early History of the Adams family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adams research. Another 194 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1329, 1460, 1474, 1609, 1615, 1650, 1700, 1728, 1756, 1763, 1770, 1792, 1798, 1815, 1819, 1820, 1822, 1823, 1836 and 1891 are included under the topic Early Adams History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adams Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Adam, Adams, MacAdam, MacAdams, MacCaw and others.

Early Notables of the Adams family

Notable amongst bearers of this family name during their early history was

  • Robert Adam (1728-1792), the famous architect. Also of note were Samuel Adams and John Adams of Massachusetts Bay (now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), signers of the American Declaration of Indepe...

Adams World Ranking

In the United States, the name Adams is the 36th most popular surname with an estimated 432,738 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Adams is ranked the 90th most popular surname with an estimated 28,987 people with that name. 6 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Adams is the 795th popular surname. 7 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Adams as 93rd with 337 people. 8 Australia ranks Adams as 61st with 35,800 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Adams as 90th with 4,257 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Adams as 70th with 64,665 people. 11 Netherlands ranks Adams as 870th with 2,303 people. 12 South Africa ranks Adams as 56th with 75,697 people. 13

Ireland Migration of the Adams family to Ireland

Some of the Adams family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Adams migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Adams Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Captain Adams, who landed in Virginia in 1609 14
  • Charles Adams, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1611 14
  • Mr. John Adams, from Middlesex who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 15
  • Mr. John Adams, from Middlesex who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 15
  • Mr. Adams, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Adams Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Adams, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1700 14
  • Robert Adams, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 14
  • Anne Adams, who landed in Virginia in 1705 14
  • Anne Adams, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 14
  • Francis Adams, who arrived in Maryland in 1707 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Adams Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Adams, who landed in America in 1802 14
  • Charles Adams, aged 48, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 14
  • Archebald Adams, aged 12, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 14
  • Elizabeth Adams, aged 8, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 14
  • John Adams, aged 15, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Adams Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, (b. 1840), aged 60, Cornish housekeeper, from Madron, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th October 1900 en route to Pass Christian, Mississippi, USA 16
  • Miss Eveline Adams, (b. 1874), aged 26, Cornish general servant, from Madron, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th October 1900 en route to Pass Christian, Mississippi, USA 16
  • Mr. Jonathan Adams, (b. 1864), aged 36, Cornish railway man, from Madron, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th October 1900 en route to Pass Christian, Mississippi, USA 16
  • Mr. Alfred Adams, (b. 1881), aged 20, Cornish miner traveling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th April 1901 en route to California, USA 16
  • Miss Lavinia Jane Adams, (b. 1892), aged 11, Cornish settler traveling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd October 1903 en route to Butte City, Montanta 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Adams migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Adams Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Adams Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Cpt. Samuel Adams U.E. (b. 1730) born in Stratford, Connecticut, USA, United Empire Loyalist from Arlington, Vermont, USA who settled in Eastern District, Montreal, then Lot 7, Concession II, Oxford Township, near Johnstown in 1805, he served under General Burgoyne, he died in 1810 and is buried in North Channel Cemetery, Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario 18
  • Daniel Adams, who landed in Canada in 1830
  • George Adams, aged 19, a gentleman, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • Maria Adams, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Robert Adams, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Silestria" from Belfast, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Adams migration to Australia +

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

Adams Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Sarah Adams, (b. 1779), aged 35, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1848 19
  • Mr. William Adams, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. Philip Adams, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr. John Adams, (b. 1798), aged 22, English farm labourer who was convicted in Derby, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1859 22
  • Mr. Edward Adams, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Adams 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:

Adams Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Adams, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Alex Percy Adams, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. Adams, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 24
  • Mrs. Adams, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 24
  • Mr. Thomas Adams, British settler referred to as the Parkhurst Boys travelling from London aboard the ship "Mandarin" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th November 1843, he had been taught trades and pardoned to live in New Zealand 24
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Adams 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. 25
Adams Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. John Adams, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 26

Contemporary Notables of the name Adams (post 1700) +

  • President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), American politician, 6th President of the United States (1825-1829)
  • Ansel Easton Adams (1902-1984), American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom 27
  • Samuel Adams (1722-1803), American statesman and brewer who led the Boston Tea Party, 4th Governor of Massachusetts (1794-1797), 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (1789-1794), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
  • Bryan Guy Adams OC OBC FRPS (b. 1959), Canadian rock musician and songwriter born in Kingston, Ontario, who has sold between 75 and 100 million records and singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time, winner of 20 Juno Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television amongst 15 Grammy nominations, and has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and three Academy Awards for his songwriting for films.
  • John Adams (1735-1826), Second President of the United States (1797-1801) and signatory of the American Declaration of Independence
  • Davante Lavell Adams (b. 1992), American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League
  • Alma Shealey Adams (b. 1946), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina (2014-)
  • Billy Ray Adams (1938-2023), American college football player for the Ole Miss Rebels, first-team All-American as a senior in 1961
  • John Joseph Adams (1951-2023), American superfan of the Cleveland Guardians, a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio; he was involved in several ceremonial first pitches and received free season tickets from the Guardians for him and his drum
  • Patrick Peter Owen Adams (1950-2022), American music arranger and record producer who achieved 32 gold and platinum records
  • ... (Another 73 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bismarck
  • Wilhelm Adams (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 28
  • Friedrich Adams (1906-1941), German Stabsoberbootsmann who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 28
Flight 191
  • K Adams (d. 1979), American passenger from Los Angeles, California, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 29
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Nigel N Adams (b. 1923), English Midshipman serving for the Royal Navy Reserve from Crownhill, Plymouth, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
  • Mr. Frank P Adams (b. 1918), English Musician serving for the Royal Marine Band from Gillingham, Kent, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
  • Mr. Victor H Adams (b. 1916), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Eastney, Portsmouth, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
  • Mr. Victor E Adams (b. 1917), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Milton, Portsmouth, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
  • Mr. Keith H Adams (b. 1923), English Corporal serving for the Royal Marine from Alverstoke, Gosport, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Francis Herbert Robert Adams, British Writer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 31
HMS Royal Oak
  • William Percy Adams (1903-1939), born in Guernsey, Channel Islands, British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 32
  • Robert L. Adams, British Chief Mechanician with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 32
Ibrox disaster
  • George Adams (1928-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Dumbartonshire who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 33
Mount Mulligan Mine
  • Thomas Adams, British-born, Australian coal miner who was killed in the Mount Mulligan Mine explosion in 1921
Pemberton Mill
  • Mr. Benjamin G. Adams, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, he was trapped with rescuers passing him tools to enable him to escape he survived with severe injuries
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. George Adams (b. 1859), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 34
RMS Lusitania
  • Mrs. Gertrude Adams, (née Pollett), English 2nd Class passenger residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada returning to Bath, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 35
  • Miss Joan M. Adams, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada returning to Bath, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 35
  • Mr. Allan H. Adams, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 35
  • Mr. Arthur Henry Adams, French 1st Class Passenger residing in London, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking by escaping in life boat 17 35
  • Mr. Henry Adams, Welsh 1st Class Passenger originating in Boston, Massachusetts, USA returning to Tenby, Pembrokshire, Wales, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 35
  • ... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Robert John Adams (1885-1912), aged 26, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 36
  • Mr. John Adams (1878-1912), aged 26, English Third Class passenger from Bournemouth, Dorset who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 36
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Thomas Davies Adams (b. 1894), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. George Adams (b. 1896), Newfoundlander from Harbour Grace, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Robert Franklin Adams, American Seaman First Class from Alabama, 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 37

Suggested Readings for the name Adams +

  • Adams Family Records: A Genealogical and Biographical History of All Branches of the Adams Family by J. T. Adams.
  • Adams, an American Dynasty by Francis Russell.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  8. 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)
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  13. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  14. 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)
  15. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  17. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  18. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  24. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  26. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  27. Ansel Adams. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Ansel Adams. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams
  28. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  29. Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
  30. 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
  31. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  32. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  33. Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/
  34. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  35. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  36. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  37. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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