Wadeson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Wadeson family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from Wat, which is a diminutive form of Walter. This Old German name, which literally means mighty army, was introduced into England during the reign of Edward the Confessor and became one of the most popular personal names in that country following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname also features the suffix -son, which superseded other patronymic suffixes in popularity during the 14th century and was most popular in the north of England.

Early Origins of the Wadeson family

The surname Wadeson was first found in the county of Rutland, where they were Lords of the manor of Rockingham, from ancient times. This was home to "a castle was erected by William I., on the summit of a hill, for the protection of the extensive iron-works at that time carried on in the adjacent woodlands. During the war in the reign of Charles I., the castle was garrisoned for the king by Sir Lewis Watson, afterwards created Lord Rockingham, and was besieged by the parliamentarian forces, who at the same time destroyed the tower and part of the nave of the church: the only remains of the castle are the two massive bastions that defended the entrance gateway." 1

Early History of the Wadeson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wadeson research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1392, 1450, 1493, 1593, 1600, 1601, 1617, 1620, 1630, 1637, 1659, 1660, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1699, 1710, 1717, 1722 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wadeson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wadeson Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Wadeson include Wattson, Walterson, MacWattie and others.

Early Notables of the Wadeson family

Distinguished members of the family include

Anthony Wadeson (fl. 1600), English playwright, "borrowed, on 13 June 1601, twenty shillings of Philip Henslowe, the theatrical manager, on account of a play on which he was engaged, bearing the title...

Migration of the Wadeson family to Ireland

Some of the Wadeson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wadeson migration to Australia +

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

Wadeson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Wadeson, English convict who was convicted in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2

Wadeson 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:

Wadeson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

S Wadeson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bolton
Samuel Wadeson, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840

Contemporary Notables of the name Wadeson (post 1700) +

Richard Wadeson (1826-1885), British colonel, born at Gaythorse, near Lancaster

The Wadeson 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: Mea gloria fides
Motto Translation: Fidelity is my glory.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim