Show ContentsTubman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tubman family

The surname Tubman was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Trengoff. Cornwall was a land set apart, a land of mystique and quaint customs, more strongly related to Brittany and Wales than to England. It was not until the 10th century that they submitted to the Saxon rule of England. Since then, their influence has moved east into Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Early History of the Tubman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tubman research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1620 is included under the topic Early Tubman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tubman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tubb, Tub, Tubby, Tubman and others.

Early Notables of the Tubman family

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


United States Tubman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tubman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Sarah J. Tubman, aged 21, who arrived in America, in 1894
Tubman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William Tubman, aged 45, who arrived in America, in 1904
  • John Tubman, aged 50, who arrived in America from New Zealand, in 1907
  • Josephine Tubman, aged 9, who arrived in America from Mohill, Ireland, in 1908
  • Katie Tubman, aged 29, who arrived in America from Mohill, Ireland, in 1908
  • Alozsius Tubman, aged 10, who arrived in America from Mohill, Ireland, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Tubman 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:

Tubman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Tubman, (b. 1864), aged 2, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 [1]
  • Mr. Thomas Tubman, (b. 1862), aged 4, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 [1]
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Tubman, (b. 1836), aged 30, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 [1]
  • Mr. Robert Tubman, (b. 1829), aged 37, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 [1]
  • Miss Eliza J. Tubman, (b. 1865), aged 10 months, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tubman (post 1700) +

  • Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), born Araminta Ross, an American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War; she helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry
  • Robert Joseph "Joe" Tubman (1897-1975), Canadian CFL football player who played from 1919 to 1931 for the Ottawa Rough Riders, inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1968
  • Bob Tubman (1884-1956), Australian rugby league footballer who played from 1908 to 1911, member of the Australia National Team in 1908
  • Winston A. Tubman (b. 1941), Liberian diplomat
  • William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (1895-1971), Liberian politician, 19th President of Liberia (1944-1971), the "father of modern Liberia"


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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