Show ContentsDaniels History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • Scotland
Daniels Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Daniels

What does the name Daniels mean?

One of the most common classes of Scottish surnames is the patronymic surname, which arose out of the vernacular and religious naming traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Patronymic surnames of this type were usually derived from the personal name of the original bearer's father. The surname Daniels is derived from the ancient name Daniel, which means God has judged. 1

Early Origins of the Daniels family

The surname Daniels was first found in Gloucestershire where Alicia Daniel was one of the first records of the name was found temp. Henry III to Edward I. Simon Danyel was later found in Somerset. 2 "The church [of Beckingon, Somerset] contains the remains of Samuel Daniel, poet-laureate and historian, who died here in 1619." 3

Some of the family were found in Yorkshire in early times. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Beatrix Danyell; Robertus Danyell; Thomas Daniell; Oliva Danyl; and Teffan Danyll. 2

"In Devonshire the name of Daniel is now best represented in the Holsworthy district. There was a John Daneyll, of "Brighe broke," in the hundred of Wonford, Devon, in the 13th century." 4

Up in Scotland, the surname recorded in Aberdeen as both a forename and surname. "Daniel, son of Herleuine, witnessed a charter by Uchtred, son of Fergus, lord of Galloway, c. 1166, and another early individual of the name gave origin to the ancient barony of Danzielstoun in the parish of Kilmalcolm. By the Gaels this name was adopted as an equivalent for Donald." 5

Early History of the Daniels family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Daniels research. Another 240 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1148, 1198, 1279, 1379, 1562, 1619, 1626, 1646, 1660, 1669, 1681, 1703, 1705, 1718 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Daniels History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Daniels Spelling Variations

Scottish surnames are distinguished by a multitude of spelling variations because, over the centuries, the names were frequently translated into and from Gaelic. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or Clan affiliation or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Daniels has also been spelled Daniels, Daniell, Daneil, Danyell, Danel, Daniers, Danyei and many more.

Early Notables of the Daniels family

John Daniel, a 17th century musician, born in Somerset, England; Samuel Daniel (1562-1619), an English poet and historian famous for his sonnets; Jeffrey Daniel (1626-1681), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Marlborough (1660); John Daniel, (fl. 1681), an English sea captain who charted part of the coast...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Daniels Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Daniels World Ranking

the United States, the name Daniels is the 150th most popular surname with an estimated 154,194 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Daniels is ranked the 800th most popular surname with an estimated 6,711 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Daniels is the 555th popular surname with an estimated 6,965 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Daniels as 766th with 955 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Daniels as 385th with 16,655 people. 10 Netherlands ranks Daniels as 875th with 2,296 people. 11 South Africa ranks Daniels as 163rd with 37,761 people. 12

Daniels migration to the United States +

Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Daniels, or a variant listed above:

Daniels Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Wentworth Daniels, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1640 14
Daniels Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Daniels, who arrived in Mississippi in 1799 14
Daniels Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Miss Alice Daniels, aged 19, British settler who arrived in New Orleans aboard the ship "Hope" on 1st April 1842
  • Mr. Samuel E. Daniels, (b. 1806), aged 41, Barbadian merchant traveling aboard the ship "Fairmont" arriving in New York in 1848 the family was going to Philadelphia 15
  • Mrs. Sophia Daniels, (b. 1814), aged 34, Barbadian settler traveling aboard the ship "Fairmont" arriving in New York in 1848 the family was going to Philadelphia 15
  • Mr. Edward Daniels, (b. 1840), aged 8, Barbadian settler traveling aboard the ship "Fairmont" arriving in New York in 1848 the family was going to Philadelphia 15
  • Miss Jane Daniels, (b. 1840), aged 8, Barbadian settler traveling aboard the ship "Fairmont" arriving in New York in 1848 the family was going to Philadelphia 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Daniels Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Richard Daniels, (b. 1863), aged 40, Cornish miner, from St. Ives, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th July 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 16

Daniels migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet
  • Miss Martha Daniels, (b. 1757), aged 31, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
Second Fleet
  • Mr. John Daniels, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "William and Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Daniel Daniels, (b. 1761), aged 26, 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 14
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Daniels Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Daniels 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:

Daniels Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Daniels, aged 35, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
  • Miss Eliza Daniels, (b. 1850), aged 17, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" sailing to Auckland and Lyttelton, New Zealand on 29th July 1867 21
  • Miss Harriet Daniels, (b. 1847), aged 27, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 22
  • Francis Daniels, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 21
  • Caroline Daniels, aged 26, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 21

Contemporary Notables of the name Daniels (post 1700) +

  • Jack Tupper Daniels (1933-2025), American exercise physiologist, running coach and a coach of Olympic athletes, named "The World's Best Coach" by Runner's World magazine
  • Cleopatra Vivian Daniels (b. 1902), American sergeant in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Dorothy Ella Daniels (b. 1923), American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Bennye Barbara Daniels (b. 1918), American corporal in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Charles L. Daniels (1939-2023), American Democratic Party politician from Arkansas, State Auditor of Arkansas from 2011 to 2015, Arkansas Secretary of State, and as Commissioner of State Lands
  • Robert Eugene "Bob" Daniels (1935-2022), American college basketball player and coach from Tutor Key, Kentucky
  • Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels (1936-2020), American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016
  • David Daniels (1933-2020), American conductor and author from Penn Yan, New York
  • Charles W. Daniels (1943-2019), American jurist, Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 2007 to 2018
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Walter G Daniels (1964-1985), American Private 1st Class from Columbus, Ohio, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 23
  • Mr. Charles G Daniels (b. 1918), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Lambeth, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
  • Mr. Walter Frederick Daniels, British Shipwright 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 25
  • George Daniels (1920-1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26
  • Mr. Robert Cleary Daniels (1892-1917), British Stoker 1st Class from Lancashire, who was aboard the ship "HMS Vanguard" when she exploded in the Scapa Flow off the Orkney Islands, Scotland on 9th July 1917
  • ... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Daniels 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: Nec timeo nec sperno
Motto Translation: I neither fear nor despise.
  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  13. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  14. 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)
  15. Barbados archives retrieved 2nd November 2021 from https://attheBarbadosarchives.wordpress.com/2003/07/18/Barbados-heritage-passenger-lists-and-Barbados-departures/
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  19. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  24. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  25. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  26. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

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