Show ContentsTass History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tass family

The surname Tass was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The Tassie variant has a most interesting origin. "The Tassies had long resided in Pollokshaws, and were believed to have come from Italy as refugees, and to have settled in Scotland as tanners and skinners. " 1

The name today is "a phonetic spelling of Gaelic Tamhas, 'Thomas.' The surname Taise, found in Mar in the seventeenth century, is probably another form of the name. " 2 And some of the earliest entries for the name include: Tawus M'Gillese, a tenant under the earl of Douglas in 1376, Tawis Michison who appears as a charter witness in 1415 and Taus ffrasser of Littlegarth who is mentioned in 1632. While these entries are the name as a forename, it was not until 1667 that the name was entered as a surname: William Taus, tailor in Dunkeld who died in 1667. 2

Early History of the Tass family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tass research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1376, 1415, 1632 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Tass History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tass Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Taws, Taw, Tawse and others.

Early Notables of the Tass family

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


United States Tass migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tass Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • F Tass, aged 26, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1845 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Tass (post 1700) +

  • Nadia Tass, Australian film director and producer


The Tass 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: Deo juvante
Motto Translation: By God’s assistance.


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  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)


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