Show ContentsAddystown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Addystown literally means "son of Addie" or "son of Addy" from the diminutive of Adam. 1 2 One source believes the name could have meant "the son of Ada or Adda (noble cheer)." 3

Early Origins of the Addystown family

The surname Addystown was first found in the Northern English and Scottish Borders. It is generally thought that the first record of the name was found on the English side in Yorkshire: John Addisone in 1308. Years later, Robert Addesone was also found in Yorkshire in 1498. 1

Across the border in Scotland, the name was fairly common "in the eastern counties from Linlithgow to Aberdeen." 4 In this case, Alicia relict of quondam Johannes filius Ede de Colly was granted four acres of land on the north side of the town of Colly in 1367. Three years later, William Adison was rector of Luss in 1370 and a few years after that, Gilbert filius Ade was a tenant of the Douglases in the barony of Kylboucho in 1376. 4

Early History of the Addystown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Addystown research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1308, 1415, 1430, 1436, 1443, 1449, 1505, 1538, 1580, 1611, 1632, 1672, 1673, 1683, 1684, 1703, 1709 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Addystown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Addystown Spelling Variations

The name, Addystown, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Addison, Addeson, Addesoun, Adieson, Adison, Edison and many more.

Early Notables of the Addystown family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Addison (fl. 1538), English divine, a native of the diocese of York, who was admitted to a fellowship at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, in 1505. 5Joseph Addison (1672-1719), was an English essayist, poet, and statesman, son of Lancelot Addison...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Addystown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Addystown family to Ireland

Some of the Addystown family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Addystown family

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Addystown surname who came to North America were: Matthew Addison, who settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Thomas Addison settled in Virginia in 1623; William Addison, settled in Barbados in 1654.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. 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)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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