Contents [hide]

Jamison History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Jamison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The ancestors of the Jamison family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. Their surname comes from "son of James". 1

Early Origins of the Jamison family

The surname Jamison was first found in on the Isle of Bute, where "a family named Jamieson or Neilson held the office of Crowner of Bute from the beginning of the fourteenth century or earlier to the seventeenth century. He was granted lands by Robert the Bruce for his services rendered to the King. King James II confirmed these grants later and further bestowed on the Jamiesons other territories on the Isle of Arran, particularly that of Over Kilmory. The office of Coroner (Crowner) was hereditary with the family. " 2

Other early records include: Alexander Jemison who had a safe conduct to trade with England in 1445, William Jamyson who was tenant of Pollock in 1472, and John Jamesone was repledged to liberty of the burgh of Irvine in the same year.

Further to the south, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus Jamessson; Johannes Jamesman (i.e. the servant of James); and Henricus Jamsman, 1379. 3

Early History of the Jamison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jamison research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1528, 1539, 1587, 1588, 1644, 1676, 1677, 1685, 1689, 1700, 1720, 1769, 1780 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jamison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jamison Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Jamison has been spelled Jamieson, Jameson, Jamison, Jamyson, Jimisone and many more.

Early Notables of the Jamison family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was George (Jamesone) Jameson (c. 1587-1644), Scotland's first eminent portrait-painter. "Born at Aberdeen, probably in 1588 (Bulloch, George Jamesone, p. 32), he was second son of Andrew Jamesone, master mason, and his wife Marjory, daughter of Gilbert Anderson, merchant, one of the magistrates of the city. After having practised as a portrait-painter in Scotland, he, according to a generally accepted tradition, which derives some corroborative evidence from the style of his painting, studied under Rubens in Antwerp, and was a fellow-pupil of Vandyck." 4William Jameson (fl. 1689-1720), was "lecturer on history at Glasgow University...
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jamison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jamison Ranking

In the United States, the name Jamison is the 1,063^rd most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Jamison family to Ireland

Some of the Jamison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jamison migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Jamison were among those contributors:

Jamison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alexander Jamison, who settled in America in 1685

Jamison Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

David Jamison, who landed in Virginia in 1705 6

Jamison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Agnes Jamison, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 6
Andrew Jamison, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Adam Jamison, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1822 6
Thomas Jamison, who landed in New York in 1822 6
Henry Jamison, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1824 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jamison migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jamison Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Thomas Jamison U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 7

Jamison Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Jamison, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Margaret Jamison, aged 50, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Jane Jamison, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Eleanor Jamison, aged 16, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Joseph Jamison, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland

Jamison migration to Australia +

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

Jamison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Jane Jamison, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 8

Jamison 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:

Jamison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Jamison, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Delhi" arriving in New Zealand in 1840 9
Mr. W. Jamison, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 9
Mr. John Jamison, (b. 1841), aged 23, British carpenter travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 9
Miss Margaret Jamison, (b. 1832), aged 33, British dressmaker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 9
Miss Jane Jamison, (b. 1846), aged 20, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 9

Jamison Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

David Jamison, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Nora Jamison, aged 9, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Joseph Jamison, aged 4, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
Samuel Jamison, aged 3, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
John Jamison, aged 1, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jamison (post 1700) +

Brandon Leon Jamison (b. 1981), American former football linebacker born in Hopkins, South Carolina
Joniece Jamison (b. 1956), American singer born in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Philip Jamison (1925-2021), American artist working primarily with watercolor as a medium from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Alfred "Al" Jamison (1937-2021), American college and professional offensive lineman in the 1960s
Tim Jamison II (b. 1986), American football defensive end for the Houston Texans
Harold Sherill Jamison (b. 1976), American professional basketball player
Roosevelt Jamison (b. 1936), American music manager, publicist and songwriter
Herbert Jamison (1875-1938), American silver medalist track and field athlete at the 1896 Summer Olympics
Judith Ann Jamison (b. 1943), American dancer and choreographer, Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Jimmy Wayne "Jimi" Jamison (b. 1951), American rock vocalist and songwriter
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Jamison family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. William Jamison, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 10

The Jamison 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: Ad littora tendit
Motto Translation: It makes for the shore.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
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