| ![Show Contents]() Dance History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Dance family is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name for the "son of Daniel," or it could have been from the Anglo-Saxon word Dense, meaning Danish. 1 Early Origins of the Dance familyThe surname Dance was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list some of the first entries of the family: Amicia Daunce; Thomas Danse; and Willelmus Daunse. 2 In Bedfordshire, early records there show William Daunce in the Assize Rolls of 1247. Robert Daunce appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301 and Robert del la Daunce was listed in 1305 and "was probably a professional dancer, chief of ‘a dancing party’, a meaning recorded c. 1385." 3 Early History of the Dance familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dance research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1700, 1741, 1748, 1755, 1761, 1768, 1775, 1790, 1793, 1800, 1825, 1827 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Dance History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Dance Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Dance have been found, including Dance, Danse and others. Early Notables of the Dance familyNotables of this surname at this time include: - George Dance the Elder (1700-1768), English architect and surveyor to the corporation of London. He designed the Mansion House and many of the churches and public buildings of the city during the earl...
- Sir Nathaniel Dance (1748-1827), was Commander in the service of the East India Company, son of James, the elder brother of Sir Nathaniel Holland, and of George Dance the Younger. 4 Sir Charles D...
- William Dance was an "English musician whose name deserves preservation as one of the founders of the Philharmonic Society. He was born in 1755, was in the orchestra of the Opera from 1775 to 1793, an...
Dance RankingIn the United States, the name Dance is the 9,145th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Dance family to Ireland
Some of the Dance family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Dance migration to the United States | + |
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Dance, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :
Dance Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Rebecca Dance, who settled in Virginia in 1729
- John Dance, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1754
Dance Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Gilbert Dance, who settled in New Orleans in 1822
- Mary Dance, who settled in New York, NY in 1824
| Dance migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Dance Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- John Dance, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Punjab"
| Dance 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: Dance Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- James Dance, aged 34, a railway labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
- Marie Dance, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Dance (post 1700) | + |
- Daryl Cumber Dance (b. 1938), American academic best known for her work on black folklore
- Jean Dance (1932-2023), best known as Jean Boht, an English actress, most famous for the role of Nellie Boswell in Carla Lane's sitcom Bread (1986-1991)
- Walter Charles Dance O.B.E. (b. 1946), English actor known as Charles Dance, his film roles include, The Golden Child, Alien 3, Last Action Hero, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Mank. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2006.
- George Dance the Elder (1695-1768), English architect
- George Dance the Younger (1741-1825), English architect and surveyor
- Brian Dance, Headmaster of St. Dunstan's
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
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Dance migration to the United States 
Dance migration to Australia 
Dance migration to New Zealand 
England
Italy
Ireland
