Contents [hide]

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

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Diamond History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Diamond is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a "the dayman," a dairyman or alternatively from the occupation of a "day's man," which was a servant of the keeper of a dairy. 1

Early Origins of the Diamond family

The surname Diamond was first found in Devon where they quickly rose to be Barons Dinham shortly after the Conquest as they claimed descendancy from the Viscounts Dinant of Bretagne. 2 Some of the family were found at Steeple Aston in Oxfordshire in ancient times; unfortunately one can presume there is now little evidence of their history. "In a chapel on the north side of the chancel are recumbent effigies of Sir Francis Page and his lady, to whom the manor of Middle Aston formerly belonged: Sir Francis destroyed some monuments of the Dinham family to make room for his own, which was erected in his life-time." 3

We did find this interesting passage about the family. "Whether these Cardinans were the ancestors of the Dynhams, or Dinhams, by whom these possessions were afterwards inherited, has been a subject of dispute; some contending that they belong to the same family, and others arguing that the latter is a distinct race. By those who contend for the distinction between these families, it is said, that Isolda, the descendant, perhaps the grand-daughter, of Robert de Cardinan, being the heiress to his estates, brought this property by marriage to Thomas de Tracy, who in the year 1257 was one of the greatest landholders in Cornwall. This lady, who was left a widow, conveyed this manor as Isolda de Cardinan, who had been the wife of Thomas Tracy, to Oliver de Dinant, or Dinan, in the year 1259; which family of Dinan is said to have taken their name from Dinan in Brittany, where they had founded a monastery, and erected a castle, at a very distant period. During these descents, the name was indifferently written Dynam or Dinham, but in process of time the latter finally prevailed. In the reign of Henry VI. John Dinham, Esq. of Cardinham, who was sheriff of Devon, and resided on his barton of Nutwell." 4

"Part of the manor of Lanherne, and Kankewas, [in the manor of St. Evall, Cornwall], with all the manorial rights connected with it, was purchased by Mr. John Dayman. " 4

Early History of the Diamond family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Diamond research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1224, 1332, 1379 and 1695 are included under the topic Early Diamond History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Diamond Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Diamond were recorded, including De Dinant, Dinan, Dinam, Dinham, Diamond, Dymond, Dyment, Diment, Dymott, Dimont and many more.

Early Notables of the Diamond family

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

Diamond World Ranking

In the United States, the name Diamond is the 1,648^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 5 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Diamond is ranked the 908^th most popular surname. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Diamond is the 264^th popular surname with an estimated 169 people with that name. 7

Diamond migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Diamond arrived in North America very early:

Diamond Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Diamond, who settled in Maine in 1620

Diamond Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Diamond, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 8

Diamond Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Diamond, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 8
James Diamond, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1834 8
Neill Diamond, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1836 8
Matthew Diamond, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 8
Daniel Diamond, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Diamond migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Diamond Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Abram Diamond, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Robert Diamond, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Private John Diamond U.E. (b. 1759) born in Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York, USA from Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York, USA who settled in South Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1783 he served in Captain Peter Ruttan's Company of Rogers Rangers he died in 1845, he had 7 children 9
Mr. Jacob Diamond U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 9
Mr. John Diamond U.E. who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Ontario c. 1786 9

Diamond Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Rose Diamond, aged 24, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
Rose, Diamond Jr., aged 16, who landed in Quebec in 1834
William Diamond, aged 14, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
Anne Diamond, aged 11, who landed in Quebec in 1834
Ellen Diamond, aged 20, who landed in Quebec in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Diamond migration to Australia +

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

Diamond Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah Diamond, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Elizabeth Diamond who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Miss Ellen Diamond, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 20th June 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Sarah Ann Diamond who was convicted in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 4th September 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Samuel Diamond, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Diamond 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:

Diamond Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Diamond (Dimond), (b. 1802), aged 39, British agricultural labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Mrs. Judith Diamond (Dimond), (b. 1804), aged 37, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Mr. Sydney Diamond (Dimond), (b. 1829), aged 12, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Miss Mary Diamond (Dimond), (b. 1838), aged 3, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Mr. Diamond (Dimond), (b. 1830), aged 11, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Diamond (post 1700) +

Dustin Diamond (1977-2021), American actor who played the role of Screech on the popular 1990s high school comedy "Saved by the Bell"
Reed Diamond (b. 1967), American actor
Robert Diamond (b. 1951), London-based American banker
Milton Diamond (b. 1934), American professor of anatomy and reproductive biology
Michael Diamond (b. 1965), American musician, member of the Beastie Boys
Neil Diamond (b. 1941), American singer/songwriter
I. A. L. Diamond (1920-1988), Romanian-born American film writer
Gregg Diamond (1949-1999), American musician
David Diamond (1915-2005), American composer
Bernard L. Diamond (1912-1990), American Professor of law and psychiatry
... (Another 41 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Diamond family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Edward Patrick Diamond, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales May 1941 and died at the battle of Denmark Strait, before the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales 16

HMS Repulse

Mr. Fred Diamond, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 17

SS Caribou

Mr. Preston Diamond (b. 1903), British passenger who was Royal Army from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking

The Diamond 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: Toujours prest
Motto Translation: Always ready

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html