Show ContentsElyas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Elyas family

The surname Elyas was first found in West Lothian where they held a family seat from very ancient times, when Helias son of Huctred was granted the lands of Dundas by Waldef, son of Earl Gospatrick, King of Northumberland in 1180.

Early History of the Elyas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elyas research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1178, 1214 and 1300 are included under the topic Early Elyas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elyas Spelling Variations

The name Elyas, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Helias, Elyas, Elias and others.

Early Notables of the Elyas family

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


United States Elyas migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Elyas family, or who bore a variation of the surname Elyas were

Elyas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M A Elyas, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 1


The Elyas 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: Non quo sed quomodo
Motto Translation: Not by whom, but by what means.


  1. 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)


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