Show ContentsDennison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Dennison surname comes from the place name Danzielstoun, in Scotland. Thus Dennison is a local surname, which belongs to a category of hereditary surnames derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Dennison family

The surname Dennison was first found in Renfrewshire, at Danzielstoun, in the parish of Kilmalcolm. "The manor took its name from some man named Daniel, and it bore this name as early as the reign of Malcolm IV", 1 who died in 1165. It is generally thought that the town was founded about 1060.

Early History of the Dennison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dennison research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1694 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dennison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dennison Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Denison, Denniston, Dennistoun, Deniston, Denistoun, Dinniston, Dinnistoun and many more.

Early Notables of the Dennison family

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

Dennison Ranking

In the United States, the name Dennison is the 1,768th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Dennison family to Ireland

Some of the Dennison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Dennison migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dennison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Dennison, who settled in New England in 1623
  • Dannie Dennison, who was on record in New England in 1626
  • Hume Dennison who settled in Virginia in 1650
  • John Dennison, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 3
Dennison Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Barnaby Dennison, a bonded passenger, who settled in America in 1736
  • Charles Dennison, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 3
Dennison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Dennison, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
  • Samuel Dennison, aged 37, who landed in New York in 1812 3
  • Richard Dennison, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 3
  • Mr. Dennison, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1821 3
  • Thomas Dennison, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dennison Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Abraham Dennison, aged 50, who settled in America from Liverpool, England, in 1904
  • Agnes Dennison, aged 28, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1904
  • Alexander Dennison, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Bandalstorm, Ireland, in 1908
  • Alexr. Dennison, aged 10, who immigrated to the United States from Stirling, Scotland, in 1911
  • Alice Dennison, aged 45, who landed in America from Stirling, Scotland, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Dennison migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dennison Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Eleanor Dennison, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mary Dennison, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Thomas Dennison, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. Isaac Dennison U.E. who settled in Charlotee County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 4
  • Mr. John Dennison U.E. who settled in Charlotee County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dennison Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Dennison, who landed in Canada in 1817
  • Sally Dennison, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
  • Mr. Bartholomew Dennison, aged 45 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Columbia" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 5
  • Mr. Bartholomew Jr. Dennison, aged 15 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Columbia" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 5
  • Mr. James Dennison who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Columbia" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Dennison migration to Australia +

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

Dennison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Dennison, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Marion" 6
  • Eliza Dennison, aged 26, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" 7
  • Sarah Dennison, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" 7
  • Isaac Dennison, aged 22, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" 7
  • Robert Dennison, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Dennison 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:

Dennison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Dennison, who arrived in Canterbury aboard the ship "Hastings" in 1856
  • William Dennison, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865
  • Mary Dennison, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865
  • H. M. Dennison, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Endymion" in 1873
  • Ellen Dennison, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1874
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dennison (post 1700) +

  • Jo-Carroll Dennison (1923-2021), American actress and model, Miss America 1942, wife of comedian Phil Silvers
  • George Marshel Dennison (1935-2017), American academic, University President of the University of Montana (1990-2010)
  • Rick Dennison (b. 1958), American offensive coordinator for the NFL 's Houston Texans
  • Aaron Lufkin Dennison (1812-1895), American watchmaker, founder of the Dennison Manufacturing Company in 1844 which would later merge into the Avery Dennison Corporation, a global manufacturer and distributor of pressure-sensitive adhesive materials
  • William Dennison Jr. (1815-1882), American politician, 24th Governor of Ohio
  • David Short Dennison Jr., American politician, who served in the United States House of Representatives (1957 to 1959)
  • Robert Lee Dennison (1901-1980), American admiral
  • Kate Dennison (b. 1984), South African-born, English pole vaulter record holder
  • Frederick Ridley Dennison (1876-1960), New Zealand mechanical engineer from Oamaru who designed and built New Zealand's first indigenous motor car in 1900
  • Robert "Robbie" Dennison (b. 1963), Northern Irish former professional footballer
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. 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
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 24)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MARION 1851 - HER HISTORY. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Marion.htm
  7. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STANDARD 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1852.shtml


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