Show ContentsDanes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Danes name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the valley or the dann. The surname often meant the dweller in the valley. 1

Alternatively the name could have been "derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Daniel,' from nickname Dan. " 2

Early Origins of the Danes family

The surname Danes was first found in Sussex where Geoffrey atte Danne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Later in Sussex, Simon Dann was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 1

Early History of the Danes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Danes research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1327 is included under the topic Early Danes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Danes Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Danes has undergone many spelling variations, including Dan, Dann, Danne, Dans, Danns, Dannes and others.

Early Notables of the Danes family

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

Ireland Migration of the Danes family to Ireland

Some of the Danes 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.


United States Danes migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Danes were among those contributors:

Danes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Suzan Danes, (Daues) aged 16, who landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 aboard the ship "Blessing" 3
  • Samll Danes, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 3
Danes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Paul Danes, who settled in New Orleans in 1827

Australia Danes migration to Australia +

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

Danes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Frederick Danes, aged 15, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Violet"

West Indies Danes 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. 4
Danes Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Richard Danes, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Danes (post 1700) +

  • Claire Catherine Danes (b. 1979), American actress of television, stage and film and winner of a Golden Globe award


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  5. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm


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