Lumsden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Scotland

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Lumsden is a name whose roots are found in the clans of the Boernician people of ancient Scotland. The Lumsden family lived in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire. They derived their name from the name of their manor, Lumsden. The name means Lumm's Valley in Old English, from the personal name Lumm.

Early Origins of the Lumsden family

The surname Lumsden was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Lumsden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lumsden research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1188, 1296, 1328, 1350, 1598 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Lumsden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lumsden Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages simply spelled according to sound. The result is an enormous number of spelling variations among names that evolved in that era. Lumsden has been spelled Lumsden, Lumsdane, Lummsdaine, Lammestone and many more.

Early Notables of the Lumsden family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

James Lumsden (1598-1660), a Scottish soldier who served in the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War, and later commanded the Scottish Covenanter armies

Lumsden Ranking

In the United States, the name Lumsden is the 11,830^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Lumsden migration to the United States +

Most of the Boernician-Scottish families who came to North America settled on the eastern seaboard of what would become the United States and Canada. Families who wanted a new order stayed south in the War of Independence, while those who were still loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, the ancestors of these families have gone on to rediscover their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Lumsden or a variant listed above:

Lumsden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henry Lumsden, who settled in Maryland in 1715
Henry Lumsden, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 2
James Lumsden, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1774 2
James Lumsden, who settled in Virginia in 1774

Lumsden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis Lumsden, aged 45, who arrived in Maine in 1812 2
John Lumsden, aged 31, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
Nicholas Lumsden, who arrived in Mississippi in 1840 2

Lumsden migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lumsden Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

George Lumsden, who landed in New Brunswick in 1783
Mr. George Lumsden U.E. from New Haven, Connecticut, USA who settled in St. Stephen, New Brunswick c. 1784 listed as a passenger on Union Transport, he was a shoe maker by trade 3

Lumsden Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alexander Lumsden, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Lumsden migration to Australia +

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

Lumsden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Charlotte Lumsden, (b. 1819), aged 29, Scottish laundress who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 11th February 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1891 4

Lumsden 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:

Lumsden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Lumsden, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
Mr. William Lumsden, (b. 1813), aged 28, British gardener travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 27th October 1841 5
Mrs. Emma Lumsden, (b. 1819), aged 22, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 27th October 1841 5
Mr. James Lumsden, (b. 1836), aged 22, Scottish agricultural labourer from Fife travelling from London aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1859 5
Mrs. Lumsden, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Invercargill" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 15th October 1874 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Lumsden (post 1700) +

M. J. Lumsden, American politician, Mayor of Largo, Florida, 1947-48 7
George Quincey Lumsden Jr. (b. 1930), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to United Arab Emirates, 1982 7
Roddy Lumsden (1966-2020), Scottish poet, born in St Andrews and educated at Madras College
John David Lumsden (1960-2016), Scottish footballer for Stoke City (1979-1982)
Roddy Lumsden (b. 1966), Scottish poet who received an Eric Gregory Award in 1991 and was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize and The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
Vivien Dale Victoria Lumsden (b. 1952), Scottish newsreader on the Scottish TV (STV Central) news programme
General Sir Peter Stark Lumsden GCB, CSI, DL (1829-1918), Scottish military officer who served in India
Ernest Stephen Lumsden (1883-1948), distinguished Scottish painter, noted etcher, and authority on etching
Sir David James Lumsden (1928-2023), British musical educator, choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist, principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow from 1976 to 1982 and of the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1982 to 1993
Eddie Lumsden (1936-2019), Australian professional rugby league footballer
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Lumsden 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: Dei dono sum quod sum
Motto Translation: By the bounty of God I am what I am.