Show ContentsDavidson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Davidson Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Davidson

What does the name Davidson mean?

The Davidson surname derives from the name of the biblical king David, whose name originally meant "beloved" in Hebrew. The name began to spread among Christians throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Variations of David are especially popular in Wales, as it is the name of the Patron Saint. The suffixes "sen," "son," etc. mean 'son of' and show that the name was patronymic.

Early Origins of the Davidson family

The surname Davidson was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Davidson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Davidson research. Another 28 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1500 and 1586 are included under the topic Early Davidson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Davidson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Davidson, Davidsohn, Davidsson and others.

Early Notables of the Davidson family

  • a Davidson in North Wales, who was granted a Coat of Arms June 12, 1586

Davidson World Ranking

the United States, the name Davidson is the 262nd most popular surname with an estimated 101,967 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Davidson is ranked the 148th most popular surname with an estimated 22,840 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Davidson is the 161st popular surname with an estimated 18,845 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Davidson as 130th with 3,577 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Davidson as 142nd with 35,740 people. 5

Migration of the Davidson family to Ireland

Some of the Davidson 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.

Davidson migration to the United States +



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 7
  • George Davidson, who arrived in Maryland in 1675 7
  • Peter Davidson, who settled in Maryland in 1684
  • Hen Davidson, who arrived in Virginia in 1698 7
Davidson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David Davidson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 7
  • 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 7
  • ... (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 7
  • Eliza Davidson, who arrived in America in 1804-1805 7
  • Eliza Davidson, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 7
  • Robert Davidson, who arrived in America in 1804-1805 7
  • Eliza Davidson, aged 48, who arrived in New York, NY in 1805 7
  • ... (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 7
  • Walter Septimus Davidson, who landed in Alabama in 1919 7
  • Archibald Davidson, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1922 7

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 6
Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Davidson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • 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 8
  • William Davidson, English convict from Cumberland, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • 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) 10
  • 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 11
  • Mr. John Davidson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Jedburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • ... (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 13
  • Mr. William Davidson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 1st December 1852 14
  • Mr. Davidson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 14
  • ... (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) 15
  • Lieutenant-General Garrison Holt Davidson (1904-1992), American Commanding General 1st Army (1962-1964) 16
  • 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.)
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 17
  • 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 18
  • 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 19
  • ... (Another 19 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Davidson +

  • Davidson Family Research and Compilation 1972, Descendants of George and Margaret Dunne Davidson by Margaret Davidson.
  • Davidson Genealogy by George G. Davidson.
  • Davison-Davidson Family Research by Mildred F. Roberts.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  7. 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)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  9. 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
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Howard Davidson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Davidson/Howard_Calhoun/USA.html
  16. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Garrison Davidson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Davidson/Garrison_Holt/USA.html
  17. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  18. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  19. News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm

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