Contents [hide]

Davidson History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Davidson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Wales
Ireland

Etymology of Davidson

What does the name Davidson mean?

The ancestors of the first family to use the name Davidson lived among the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The name Davidson is derived from the personal name David. Davidson is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. This surname comes from the religious naming tradition, and was adopted from the popular biblical surname, David, which means beloved. This surname is believed to date as far back as the 15th century, BC, and to have come to Scotland from Brittany, with the Picts. The first Chief of the Clan Davidson, David Dubh, was of Pictish descent. He was the fourth son of the chief of Clan Chattan, of which the Davidsons became a part.

Early Origins of the Davidson family

The surname Davidson was first found in Perth, where, in 1219, Johnannes filius Davidis, a merchant in Perth, is mentioned. Some accounts suggest that around 1000 AD the Catti (Chattan) Clan, from whom the Davidson Clan descends, broke into two distinct factions, the MacKintosh and the MacPherson Clans.

The Davidson Clan was part of the MacPherson element, but always considered itself to be the senior Clan of the Chattan group. Records from the Ragman Rolls show Adami fiz Dauid of Forfarshire and Johan le fiz David of Berwickshire rendering homage to King Edward I of England in 1296.

The first estates of the Clan Davidson were at Invernahaven, a small estate in Badenoch, where they were said to be found from the mid 14th century.

Early History of the Davidson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Davidson research. Another 219 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1396, 1408, 1411, 1466, 1500, 1549, 1603, 1670 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Davidson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Davidson Spelling Variations

The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. Davidson has been spelled Davison, Davidson, Davisint, Davisyn, Debison, Dawysone, Dawyson, Davysone, Davyson, Davitson, Dawysown, Davisoun, Davisend, Davidsone, Davidson, Daveysone, Daveyson, Dauyson, Dawysume, Dauysum and many more.

Early Notables of the Davidson family

Sir Robert Davidson, Chief of the Clan Davidson, who was killed at the Battle of Harlaw, in 1411
John Davidson (1549?-1603), was a Scottish church leader, born about 1549 at Dunfermline in Fifeshire, where his parents owned some property in houses and lands. 1

Davidson World Ranking

the United States, the name Davidson is the 262^nd most popular surname with an estimated 101,967 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Davidson is ranked the 148^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,840 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Davidson is the 161^st popular surname with an estimated 18,845 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Davidson as 130^th with 3,577 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Davidson as 142^nd with 35,740 people. 6

Migration of the Davidson family to Ireland

Some of the Davidson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Davidson migration to the United States +

This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name Davidson:

Davidson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Charles Davidson, who was sent to Virginia in 1666
Elizabeth Davidson, who landed in Maryland in 1667 8
George Davidson, who arrived in Maryland in 1675 8
Peter Davidson, who settled in Maryland in 1684
Hen Davidson, who arrived in Virginia in 1698 8

Davidson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

David Davidson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 8
Alexander Davidson, who arrived in Maryland in 1710
William Davidson, who settled in Maryland in 1716
Owen Davidson, a prisoner sent to Yorktown, VA in 1716
Donald Davidson, who landed in South Carolina in 1716 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davidson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Davidson, who arrived in America in 1804-1805 8
Eliza Davidson, who arrived in America in 1804-1805 8
Eliza Davidson, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 8
Robert Davidson, who arrived in America in 1804-1805 8
Eliza Davidson, aged 48, who arrived in New York, NY in 1805 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davidson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Louis Davidson, who landed in Mississippi in 1903 8
Walter Septimus Davidson, who landed in Alabama in 1919 8
Archibald Davidson, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1922 8

Davidson migration to Canada +

Davidson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Capt Davidson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Capt. Davidson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Ewer Davidson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
James Davidson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
James Davidson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1775
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davidson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Davidson, who arrived in Canada in 1820
William Davidson, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
Sarah Davidson, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
Catherine Davidson, age 45 who arrived in Quebec in 1835
Catherine Davidson, aged 45, who landed in Quebec in 1835
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davidson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

J G Davidson, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Davidson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. John Davidson, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7

Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Davidson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Davidson, (d. 1824), British settler who was convicted in Surrey, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. John Davidson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
William Davidson, English convict from Cumberland, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Donald Davidson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. Josiah Davidson, British convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davidson 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:

Davidson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Davidson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
William Davidson, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Whitby" in 1841
Mrs. Davidson, Australian settler travelling from Sydney with 2 children aboard the ship "Bertha" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842 14
Mr. William Davidson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 1st December 1852 15
Mr. Davidson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Davidson (post 1700) +

Jo Ann Davidson (1927-2024), American politician in Ohio
Paul Davidson (1930-2024), American macroeconomist who has been one of the leading spokesmen of the American branch of the post-Keynesian school in economics
Carol Kreeger Davidson (1929-2014), American sculptor, known for her Postminimalist style
Gordon Davidson (1933-2016), American stage and film director
Eric Harris Davidson (1937-2015), American developmental biologist at the California Institute of Technology
Major-General Howard Calhoun Davidson (1890-1984), American Commanding General Strategic Air Force, Eastern Air Command (1943-1945) 16
Lieutenant-General Garrison Holt Davidson (1904-1992), American Commanding General 1st Army (1962-1964) 17
Arthur Davidson (1881-1950), one of the four original founders of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Justin Davidson (b. 1966), American classical music and architecture critic awarded the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Davidson family +

Centaur

A. Francis Davidson, Australian Second Butcher who survived when the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
Mr. William Davidson, Australian passenger who died aboard the ship "Dunbar" when she sunk off the coast of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), Australia on 28th August 1857
Mr. George Davidson, British Storekeeper from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 18
Mr. Gordon Charles Davidson (1885-1914), British Second Class Passenger returning from San Francisco, California, United States who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 19
Mr. James Davidson (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 20
... (Another 19 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

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/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Howard Davidson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Davidson/Howard_Calhoun/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Garrison Davidson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Davidson/Garrison_Holt/USA.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm