Sands History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


Sands is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived throughout ancient Britain as the name literally means "dweller on sandy soil or by the sands." 1 2

"The vocable sand is found in composition of many localities, but the surnames Sand, Sands may mean a messenger, one sent; from German tenden, Goth, sandjan, Anglo-Saxon sendan." 3

Early Origins of the Sands family

The surname Sands was first found in Surrey where William de Sandes was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205. A few years later, Walter de la Sonde was found in the Feet of Fines for Surrey in 1248, and later again, Andrew atte Sonde was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Other early entries include: Reginald del Sond in Suffolk in 1298, Thomas Attensandes in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301 and Gilbert del Sandes in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. 1

One of the earliest records of the family was John Sandale (or Sandall), from Wheatley within Long Sandale, Yorkshire. He was Lord High Treasurer (1310-1311) and (1314-1318). Later he was Bishop of Winchester (1316-1319.) 4

Many families were caught up the religious turmoil of the time and this family was no exception in Gloucestershire. "The first that was called to shed his blood was the Rev. John Sands, or Sandys. Ordained priest at Rheims, he came on the English mission in 1584. Labouring diligently in the work of the ministry, he was apprehended, and was soon condemned to the death of a traitor, for his priestly character. Paul Tracye, of Stanwey, then Sheriff of the county, assisted at his barbarous execution in Gloucester on 2nd August, 1586." 5

Walter atte Sond was bailiff of Yarmouth, Norfolk in 1335 and about the same time, "Earl Sondes owned a large estate in Norfolk." 6

In northern England we found Johannes del Sandes listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 and the Estates and Families of Cumberland, Cumberland included an entry for Thomas del Sandes, 16 Richard II (during the sixteenth year of King Richard II's reign.) 7

Further to the north in Scotland, the family came "from the lands of Sands in the parish of Tulliallan in Fife, which in 1494 were in possession of Thomas Sands and his mother, Isobel Hudson. John Sands was chaplain at Polkelly in 1487, Thomas Sandis of that Ilk was tenant in the quarter lands of Lurg near Culross, 1587." 8

Early History of the Sands family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sands research. Another 225 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1468, 1471, 1510, 1523, 1549, 1571, 1576, 1587, 1589, 1600, 1603, 1618, 1620, 1624, 1633, 1638, 1645, 1677 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sands History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sands Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Sands family name include Sand, Sands, Sandes, Sandis, Sandall, Saundes, Sonds and many more.

Early Notables of the Sands family

Distinguished members of the family include George Sondes, Earl of Feversham (1600-1677), born in 1600 at Lees Court, in the parish of Sheldwich, near Feversham in Kent, son and heir of Sir Richard...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sands Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sands Ranking

In the United States, the name Sands is the 1,913rd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 9 However, in New Zealand, the name Sands is ranked the 934th most popular surname with an estimated 798 people with that name. 10

Migration of the Sands family to Ireland

Some of the Sands family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Sands migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Sands surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Sands Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Sands Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Sands Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sands migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sands Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Sands Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Sands migration to Australia +

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

Sands Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Sands 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:

Sands Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Sands (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Sands +
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