Contents [hide]

North History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

North History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient roots of the North family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name North comes from when the family lived in the north, or were people who lived to the north of a main settlement. North is a local surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree.

Early Origins of the North family

The surname North was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the North family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our North research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1535, 1581, 1601, 1602, 1609, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1652, 1656, 1666, 1671, 1677, 1678, 1685, 1691, 1695, 1709, 1734, 1743 and 1890 are included under the topic Early North History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

North Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name North has appeared include North, Northe, Northey and others.

Early Notables of the North family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Thomas North (1535-1601), English translator, whose works were used as sources by Shakespeare
Sir Henry North, 1st Baronet (ca.1609-1671), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1656 and 1671
Sir Edward Northey (1652-1743), a senior British barrister and politician
Dudley North, 3rd Baron North (1581-1666), an English nobleman, Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (1640-1642)
Dudley North, 4th Baron North K.B. (1602-1677), an English politician
Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford PC KC (1637-1685), Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Sir Dudley North (1641-1691), English merchant and economist
William North, 6th Baron North and 2nd Baron Grey (1678-1734), known as Lord North and Grey, an English soldier and Jacobite

North World Ranking

In the United States, the name North is the 1,797^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name North is ranked the 592^nd most popular surname with an estimated 6,578 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name North is the 671^st popular surname with an estimated 1,055 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks North as 516^th with 12,690 people. 4

Migration of the North family to Ireland

Some of the North family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

North migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name North arrived in North America very early:

North Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas North, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 5
Jo North, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" 5
Jo North, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 5
John North, who landed in Connecticut in 1635 5
John North, aged 20, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Susan and Ellin" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

North Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza North, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 5
Abra North, who landed in Virginia in 1713 5
John Geo North, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1771 5
Thomas North, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1775 5
Stephen North, who arrived in America in 1797 5

North Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Caroline North, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 5
Abel North, aged 20, who arrived in America in 1821 5
Peter North, who landed in New York in 1836 5
William North, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1845
Christina North, aged 17, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

North migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

North Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Thomas North U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Mr. Thomas North U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River 6
Mr. Wanshaw North U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River 6
Mr. William North U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River, listed as a child more than 10 years of age 6
Miss. Elizabeth North U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 was a passenger aboard "Cyrus" on August 21, 1783 from New York to Saint John River, listed as a child less than 10 years of age 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

North Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry North, (b. 1821), aged 34, English settler, from Colyton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 7
Mrs. Mary A. North, (b. 1827), aged 28, English settler, from Colyton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking 7
Mr. Henry P. North, (b. 1850), aged 5, English settler, from Colyton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he died in the sinking 7
Miss Eliza North, (b. 1852), aged 3, English settler, from Colyton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking 7
Mr. George North, (b. 1854), aged 1, English settler, from Colyton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he died in the sinking 7

North migration to Australia +

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

North Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Andrew North, (b. 1760), aged 37, English flax dresser who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life for arson, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1823 8
Mr. Thomas North, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8

North Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James North, British convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. William North, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
William North, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Joseph North, English convict from Leicester, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. William North, British Convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

North 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:

North Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas North, aged 32, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
Mary Ann North, aged 31, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
George North, aged 2, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
May North, aged 9, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
Sarah North, aged 8, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name North (post 1700) +

Jay Waverly North (1951-1959), American child actor, best known for his role as Dennis in Dennis The Menace (1959-1963) 14
Ian North (1952-2021), American musician, producer and pand painter known for his work with power pop band Milk 'N' Cookies
William J. North, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 57th District, 1915-16 15
William North (1755-1836), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1791-92, 1793-96, 1809-10; U.S. Senator from New York, 1798 15
Walter H. North (b. 1933), American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 48th District, 1964; Member of Michigan State Senate 37th District, 1995- 15
Walter H. North (1871-1952), American Republican politician, Circuit Judge in Michigan 37th Circuit, 1906-27; Justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1927-52; Chief Justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1929, 1936, 1944, 1952 15
T. W. North, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 1st District, 1902 15
Thomas E. North, American politician, Industrial Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1916 15
T. R. North, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1884 15
Solomon Taylor North (1853-1917), American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Jefferson County, 1905-08; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 27th District, 1915-17 15
... (Another 45 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the North family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Samuel Alexander North (b. 1923), British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 16

RMS Lusitania

Miss Olive North, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 17

The North 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: Animo et fide
Motto Translation: By courage and faith.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"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
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
Jay North. (Retrieved 2015, March 27) Jay North. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_North
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/