| ![Show Contents]() Commander History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The name Commander is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who commands military forces, the Knights Templar, for example. The surname Commander is derived from the Old English words comander, comandor, and comandour, and from the Old French word comandeor, all of which mean Commander, ruler, or leader. Early Origins of the Commander familyThe surname Commander was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Commander familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Commander research. Another 48 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1274, 1603, 1663, 1701 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Commander History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Commander Spelling VariationsUntil 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 Commander include Commander, Commandur, Comaunder and others. Early Notables of the Commander familyMore information is included under the topic Early Commander Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Commander RankingIn the United States, the name Commander is the 12,659th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
 Commander migration to Canada | + |
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Commander were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Commander Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- George Commander, who settled in Toronto in 1871
- Charles Commander, who settled in Ontario in 1871
| Contemporary Notables of the name Commander (post 1700) | + |
- Charles Commander Clay, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Georgia, 2000 2
- Commander Frank Gilbert Hackforth -Jones R.N. (1900-1982), British writer of the mid 20th century and Royal Navy officer
- Commander William Acton, U.S. Navy, Operations officer on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, 1967–1968, eponym of Mount Acton, Antarctica
- Commander Richard J. Aylard CVO (b. 1952), retired British Royal Navy officer, Director and Special Advisor to the Chief Executive of Thames Water, Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales (1991-1996), son of Joyce Ethel Aylard
- Commander William Bladwell, British Naval officer, commander of HMS Swift (1741)
- Commander Richard Charles Clavell, British Royal Navy officer who was stationed in Australia on secondment to the Royal Australian Navy from 1920 to 1922, father of James Clavell
- Commander James Campbell Clouston (1900-1940), Canadian officer of the British Royal Navy, pier-master during the Dunkirk evacuation
- Commander Charlotte Manley LVO, OBE (b. 1957), British Chapter Clerk of St George's Chapel, Windsor since 2003, former Private Secretary and Treasurer to the Duke of York (2001-2003)
- Commander W. Baggaley, United States commander of the USS Humphreys (DD-236/APD-12), a Clemson-class destroyer during World War II
- Commander William Barker Cushing (1842-1874), American officer in the United States Navy, best known for sinking the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle on 27 October 1864, for which he received the Thanks of Congress
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Commander migration to Canada 
