Show ContentsCane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished Spanish surname Cane is derived from a nickname; that is, it was originally used to describe a physical or personal characteristic of the original bearer. In this case, the surname is derived from the Spanish word "cano," meaning "white-haired" or "ancient," and would have been applied to one with gray hair or one who was advanced in years.

Early Origins of the Cane family

The surname Cane was first found in many Regions of Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. There were families of this name in Castile, Murcia, Seville, Vizcaya, Portugal and other regions. In Vizcaya, a family of this name resided in Aldeanueva, Valmaseda, while another family was established in Penacerrada, Laguardia, in Alava.

Early History of the Cane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cane research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1476, 1526, 1601 and 1667 are included under the topic Early Cane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cane Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cano, Cao, Cane, Caño and others.

Early Notables of the Cane family

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

Cane Ranking

In the United States, the name Cane is the 10,942nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Cane migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cane Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Cane, who landed in Virginia in 1622 2
  • Patrick Cane, who landed in Virginia in 1637 2
  • Margarett Cane, who landed in Virginia in 1643 2
  • Edward Cane, who arrived in Maryland in 1648 2
  • Thomas Cane, who landed in Maryland in 1649 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cane Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hugh Cane, who landed in Virginia in 1716 2
  • Germain Cane, aged 26, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 2
  • Joanis Cane, aged 22, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 2
  • Roger Cane, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 2
  • Catherine Cane, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746-1747 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Cane, who landed in America in 1803 2
  • Charles Cane, who landed in New London, Connecticut in 1811 2
  • James Cane, who arrived in America in 1811 2
  • Peter Cane, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1879 2

Canada Cane migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cane Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Arthur Cane, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • James Cane, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Thais Cane, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Timothy Cane, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Timothy Cane, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cane Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Cane, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
  • Henry Cane, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Australia Cane migration to Australia +

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

Cane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Cane, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Mr. Peter Cane, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1839 4
  • Mr. John Cane, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
  • Biddy Cane, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
  • G. Cane, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Athenian" in 1849 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Cane 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:

Cane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Hugh Cane, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th October 1861 8
  • Mr. Peter Cane, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th October 1861 8
  • Mr. John Cane, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th October 1861 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Cane (post 1700) +

  • Mrs. W. O. Cane, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1924 9
  • Rudolph C. Cane, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates District 37-A; Elected 1998; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 2000 9
  • Richard P. Cane, American politician, Honorary Consul for Cuba at Louisville, Kentucky, 1905 9
  • Jacob Cane, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 11th District, 1926, 1927 9
  • Arnold J. Cane (b. 1914), American Republican politician, Member of Wisconsin State Assembly from Winnebago County 3rd District, 1951-60 9
  • Robert Cane (1807-1858), Irish naturalist, born in Kilkenny in 1807 10


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ATHENIAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Athenian.htm
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 31 Oct. 2019


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