Show ContentsAddamson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Addamson family

The surname Addamson was first found in Angus, where one of the first records of the name was "Adam filius Ade filius Philippi [who] was burgess of Suhtberewick in 1261. " 1 John Adamson of the same county took an oath of fealty in 1296.

Early History of the Addamson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Addamson research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1261, 1296, 1433, 1581, 1587, 1639 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Addamson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Addamson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Adamsone, Addamson, Adamson and others.

Early Notables of the Addamson family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Addamson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Addamson family to Ireland

Some of the Addamson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


West Indies Addamson 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. 2
Addamson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • David Addamson, aged 23, who landed in Jamaica in 1684 3


The Addamson 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: Crux mihi grata quies
Motto Translation: The Cross gives me welcome rest.


  1. 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)
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook