Contents [hide]

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

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Masson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestors of the Masson family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. In Gaelic, the name was spelled M'Mhathain or Mathanach, meaning "Matthew." 1 It has been suggested that the Gaelic name was probably derived from Mac Mhathghamhuin which means "son of the bear." Indeed, early references of the name have reference to the Scottish bear. 2 3

Today, early legal records provide a plethora of information about the family with various early spellings. Some of the first records include, "Robertus filius Mathei [who] witnessed a charter by Walter filius Alani, a. 1177. John Mathyson and Michael Mathowson were outlawed as part guilty of the slaughter of Walter de Ogilvy, Sheriff of Angus, in 1392." 3

Early Origins of the Masson family

The surname Masson was first found in the Scottish Highlands were they could be found in Lochalsh, Lochcarron and Kintail. They are said to descend from Gilleoin of the ancient and royal house of Lorne. They gave their allegiance to the Clan MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles. Kenneth MacMathan (Cormac Mac Mathian) was the constable of Eilean Donan castle and is recorded in most accounts of the invasion of King Haakon IV of Norway against Scotland in the 13th century. One accounts suggests that McMathan and his clansmen fought under the Earl of Ross, defeating Haaken at Largs in 1263.

There is a record of Kermac Macmaghan in Inverness, receiving 20 cows from the Earl of Ross in 1264. "In the Norse Saga he is called Kjarmak son of Makamal = Corniac Macmathan. The Siol Mhathain, a sept of Matheson, in an old Gaelic song appears as Siol Mhothan. Matheson has been adopted as the English form of the name simply on account of the similarity of sound." 3

Early History of the Masson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Masson research. Another 418 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1400, 1411, 1427, 1498, 1514, 1539, 1570, 1600, 1631, 1683, 1688, 1715, 1719, 1796, 1820, 1851, 1878 and 1963 are included under the topic Early Masson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Masson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mathieson, MacMaghan, MacMathan MacMaken, Mathie, Mann and many more.

Early Notables of the Masson family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Margaret Matson, one of two women tried in Philadelphia for witchcraft in 1683; Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson (1796-1878), born in Shiness, Lairg, who made a great fortune in the opium trade, and was created the 1st Baronet of Lewis in 1851. His family proceeded to buy the former Clan territories: James Matheson...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Masson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Masson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Masson is the 10,328^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Masson is ranked the 513^rd most popular surname. 5 And in France, the name Masson is the 51^st popular surname with an estimated 40,750 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Masson family to Ireland

Some of the Masson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Masson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Masson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Masson, who landed in Maryland in 1660-1661 7
Richard Masson, who landed in Maryland in 1678 7
Jean Masson, who married Anne Greslon at Neuville, in 1699

Masson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Masson, aged 20, who settled in Virginia in 1700
William Masson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1705-1708 7
Pierre Masson, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 7
Peter Masson, who landed in South Carolina in 1738 7
Mary Masson, who landed in South Carolina in 1738 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Masson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lewis Masson, who landed in Ohio in 1812 7
J Masson, aged 50, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1847 7
A Masson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
Ed Masson, aged 25, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1852 7
Mathew Masson, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1860 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Masson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Masson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Nicolas Masson, son of Nicolas and Marie, who married Marie Gendre, daughter of Moise and Jeanne, in Quebec on 12th November 1665 8
Gilles Masson, who settled in Québec, where he married Marie-Jeanne Gauthier in 1668
Gilles Masson, son of Pierre and Françoise, who married Jeanne-Marie Gautier, daughter of Honoré and Jacqueline, in Quebec on 17th Ocotber 1668 8
Jacques Masson, son of Louis and Marie, who married Jeanne Jousselot, daughter of Pierre and Ozanne, in Quebec on 25th November 1670 8
Jacques Masson, whose wedding to Jeanne Jousselot of Québec was in 1670
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Masson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Louis Masson, son of Gilles and Jeanne-Marie, who married Catherine Richard, daughter of Jean and Madeleine, in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec on 6th February 1703 8
Jean-François Masson, son of Jean and Anne, who married Louise Paré, daughter of François and Marguerite, in Saint-Augustin, Quebec on 19th March 1724 8
Pierre-Théodore Masson, who married Catherine Lemay at St-Laurent, Montreal in 1724
Théodore Masson, son of Théodore and Marguerite, who married Catherine Lemay, daughter of Joseph and Marie-Agnès, in Saint-Laurent, Quebec on 20th February 1724 8
Pierre Masson, son of Pierre and Catherine, who married Marie-Françoise Brouillet, daughter of Michel and Marie, in Quebec on 18th August 1727 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Masson migration to Australia +

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

Masson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Masson, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 9

Masson 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:

Masson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Masson, (b. 1847), aged 26, Scottish dressmaker from Aberdeen travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Masson (post 1700) +

Paul Masson (1859-1940), American (Burgundy born), pioneer of California viticulture and wine-making
Charles Masson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1956 11
David Masson (1822-1907), Scottish historian
Huguette Masson (1903-2018), French supercentenarian who lived to the age of 113
Jean Augustin Masson, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 12
Henri Masson, French Olympian who won a silver medal for fencing at the 1900 games
Paul Masson (1874-1944), French three time gold Olympic medalist for cycling track at the 1896 games
André-Aimé-René Masson (1896-1987), French painter and graphic artist
Frédéric Masson (1847-1923), French historian
Louis-Rodrigue Masson (1833-1903), Canadian politician, Member of Parliament (1867-1882), a Senator, and Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec

Historic Events for the Masson family +

SS Caribou

Mr. James Ronald Masson (b. 1923), British passenger who was Royal Navy from Shawville, Quebec 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 Masson 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: Fac et Spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)
"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
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PestonjeeBomanjee.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, April 16) Jean Masson. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html