Show ContentsAdams History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Adams Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Adams

What does the name Adams mean?

The name Adams is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It is derived from "Adam," a given name which is itself derived from the Latin name "Adamus," meaning "earth."

The MacAdams "of Waterhead, co. Ayr, claim descent from the head of the Clan Macgregor; but the name was changed, early in the XVI. century, from Macgregor to Macadam, in consequence of political troubles." 1

Another source agrees with the postulation: "The family are descended from Adam Macgregor, grandson of Gregor Macgregor, chief of the Clan Gregor." 2

However, our research has shown the family existed far before Adam Macgregror as we shall soon show. In fact, "The Macadams of Waterhead, Ayrshire, of whom John Loudon Macadam the famous road-builder was a member, claim to be descended from a Macgregor of the first half of the sixteenth century who fled to Ayrshire. Recently Mr. Roy Devereux, great-grandson of the roadbuilder, in a letter to the press says: 'During my researches for the biography of my ancestor which I am now writing I have found no evidence whatever in support of the tradition that the McAdams are descended from the McGregors.'" 3

Early Origins of the Adams family

The surname Adams was first found in Annandale, where they held a family seat at Kynemund and at Waterhead in the Stewartry of Kirkudbright.

"Adam of Caithness (d. 1222), Scottish bishop, was probably a native of the south of Scotland. The tradition is that he was a foundling exposed at the church door. He first appears in 1207, when we find that he, already prior of the Cistercians at Melrose, became abbot. " 4

The name is MacAdaim in Gaelic, denoting "son of Adam" and the first record was "Dolfinus mach Adam witnessed a charter by Ernaldus, bishop of St. Andrews, c. 1160-1162." 3 This is likely the same aforementioned "Adam of Caithness" mentioned above but the Latin form of the name was used for this entry.

Early History of the Adams family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adams research. Another 194 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1329, 1460, 1474, 1609, 1615, 1650, 1700, 1728, 1756, 1763, 1770, 1792, 1798, 1815, 1819, 1820, 1822, 1823, 1836 and 1891 are included under the topic Early Adams History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adams Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Adam, Adams, MacAdam, MacAdams, MacCaw and others.

Early Notables of the Adams family

  • Robert Adam (1728-1792), the famous architect. Also of note were Samuel Adams and John Adams of Massachusetts Bay (now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), signers of the American Declaration of Indepe...

Adams World Ranking

the United States, the name Adams is the 36th most popular surname with an estimated 432,738 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Adams is ranked the 90th most popular surname with an estimated 28,987 people with that name. 6 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Adams is the 795th popular surname. 7 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Adams as 93rd with 337 people. 8 Australia ranks Adams as 61st with 35,800 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Adams as 90th with 4,257 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Adams as 70th with 64,665 people. 11 Netherlands ranks Adams as 870th with 2,303 people. 12 South Africa ranks Adams as 56th with 75,697 people. 13

Migration of the Adams family to Ireland

Some of the Adams family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adams migration to the United States +



Adams Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Captain Adams, who landed in Virginia in 1609 15
  • Charles Adams, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1611 15
  • Mr. John Adams, from Middlesex who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 16
  • Mr. John Adams, from Middlesex who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 16
  • Mr. Adams, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Adams Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Adams, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1700 15
  • Robert Adams, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 15
  • Anne Adams, who landed in Virginia in 1705 15
  • Anne Adams, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 15
  • Francis Adams, who arrived in Maryland in 1707 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Adams Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Adams, who landed in America in 1802 15
  • Charles Adams, aged 48, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 15
  • Archebald Adams, aged 12, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 15
  • Elizabeth Adams, aged 8, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 15
  • John Adams, aged 15, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Adams Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Jonathan Adams, (b. 1864), aged 36, Cornish railway man, from Madron, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th October 1900 en route to Pass Christian, Mississippi, USA 17
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, (b. 1840), aged 60, Cornish housekeeper, from Madron, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th October 1900 en route to Pass Christian, Mississippi, USA 17
  • Miss Eveline Adams, (b. 1874), aged 26, Cornish general servant, from Madron, Cornwall traveling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th October 1900 en route to Pass Christian, Mississippi, USA 17
  • Mr. Alfred Adams, (b. 1881), aged 20, Cornish miner traveling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th April 1901 en route to California, USA 17
  • Miss Lavinia Jane Adams, (b. 1892), aged 11, Cornish settler traveling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd October 1903 en route to Butte City, Montanta 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adams migration to Canada +

Adams Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Adams Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Cpt. Samuel Adams U.E. (b. 1730) born in Stratford, Connecticut, USA, United Empire Loyalist from Arlington, Vermont, USA who settled in Eastern District, Montreal, then Lot 7, Concession II, Oxford Township, near Johnstown in 1805, he served under General Burgoyne, he died in 1810 and is buried in North Channel Cemetery, Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario 19
  • Daniel Adams, who landed in Canada in 1830
  • George Adams, aged 19, a gentleman, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • Maria Adams, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Robert Adams, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Silestria" from Belfast, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adams migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. William Adams, (d. 1798), British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to life for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 14
  • Mr. George Adams, (1765 - 1790), aged 24, British settler convicted in Kent, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing sheep, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 15
Third Fleet
  • Mr. John Adams, (b. 1740), aged 47, English settler convicted in London on 26th May 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 15
  • Miss Mary Adams, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in London on 13th December 1786, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788, she died in 1788 15
Following the First and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Adams Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Sarah Adams, (b. 1779), aged 35, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1848 20
  • Mr. William Adams, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr. Philip Adams, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 22
  • Mr. Edward Adams, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 23
  • Mr. Thomas Adams, British Convict who was convicted in Northhampton, Northamptonshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adams 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:

Adams Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Alex Percy Adams, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • John Adams, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. Adams, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 24
  • Mrs. Adams, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 24
  • H H Adams, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adams migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 25
Adams Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. John Adams, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 26

Adams migration to South Africa +

After the Napoleonic Wars, Britain experienced a serious unemployment problem. Encouraged by the government in the 1820's, people traveled to the Cape Colony. This was one of the largest stages of British settlement in Africa. Lord Somerset the British governor in South Africa encouraged them to settle in the frontier area now known as the Eastern Cape. Life was hard and many left for better towns. Those who remained became a significant contribution to business and economy with agriculture and wool. Approximately 4,000 settlers arrived in 60 different parties from April to June 1820. 27
Adams Settlers in South Africa in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Adams, (b. 1798), aged 22, British mason travelled aboard the "Weymouth" arriving in Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1820 28
  • Mr. Henry Adams, (b. 1784), aged 36, British mason travelled aboard the "Weymouth" arriving in Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1820 29
  • Miss Mary Adams, (b. 1790), aged 30, British settler travelled aboard the "Weymouth" arriving in Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1820 30
  • Miss Mary Price Adams, (b. 1815), aged 5, British settler travelled aboard the "Chapman" arriving in Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1820, she died in 1906 31
  • Mr. Matthew Adams, (b. 1799), aged 21, born in London, England, British watch maker travelled aboard the "Chapman" arriving in Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1820, he died in 1852 32
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Adams (post 1700) +

  • President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), American politician, 6th President of the United States (1825-1829)
  • Ansel Easton Adams (1902-1984), American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom 33
  • Samuel Adams (1722-1803), American statesman and brewer who led the Boston Tea Party, 4th Governor of Massachusetts (1794-1797), 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (1789-1794), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
  • Bryan Guy Adams OC OBC FRPS (b. 1959), Canadian rock musician and songwriter born in Kingston, Ontario who has sold between 75 and 100 million records and singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time, winner of 20 Juno Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television amongst 15 Grammy nominations, and has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and three Academy Awards for his songwriting for films.
  • John Adams (1735-1826), Second President of the United States (1797-1801) and signatory of the American Declaration of Independence
  • Boyd Adams (1934-2025), American NASCAR driver from Nashville, Tennessee
  • Kenneth Adams (1940-2025), American professional boxing trainer and onetime Olympic amateur boxer
  • Evelyn E. "Tommie" Adams (1923-1999), American shortstop who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1946)
  • Amy Lou Adams (b. 1974), American actress. Known for both her comedic and dramatic roles, featured three times in annual rankings of the world's highest-paid actresses, recipient of two Golden Globe Awards, and has been nominated for six Academy Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards
  • ... (Another 79 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bismarck
  • Wilhelm Adams (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 34
  • Friedrich Adams (1906-1941), German Stabsoberbootsmann who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 35
  • Alan Thomas Adams (1913-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Margaret Lamont Adams (1913-1943), Australian Sister who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • K Adams (d. 1979), American passenger from Los Angeles, California, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 35
  • ... (Another 38 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Adams +

  • Adams Family Records: A Genealogical and Biographical History of All Branches of the Adams Family by J. T. Adams.
  • Adams, an American Dynasty by Francis Russell.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. "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
  8. 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)
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  13. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  14. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  15. 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)
  16. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  18. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  19. 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
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  24. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  26. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  27. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau Giliomee, H. and Mbenga, B. (2007). | New History of South Africa. Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town, pg 85-87.
  28. 1827 British Settlers to South Africa (Retrieved 16th September 2021). https://www.1820settlers.com/
  29. 1828 British Settlers to South Africa (Retrieved 16th September 2021). https://www.1820settlers.com/
  30. 1829 British Settlers to South Africa (Retrieved 16th September 2021). https://www.1820settlers.com/
  31. 1830 British Settlers to South Africa (Retrieved 16th September 2021). https://www.1820settlers.com/
  32. 1831 British Settlers to South Africa (Retrieved 16th September 2021). https://www.1820settlers.com/
  33. Ansel Adams. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Ansel Adams. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams
  34. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  35. Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area

Houseofnames.com on Facebook