Contents [hide]

Dann History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Dann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Dann comes from the family having resided in the valley or the dann. The surname often meant the dweller in the valley. 1

Alternatively the name could have been "derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Daniel,' from nickname Dan. " 2

Early Origins of the Dann family

The surname Dann was first found in Sussex where Geoffrey atte Danne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Later in Sussex, Simon Dann was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 1

Early History of the Dann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dann research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1327 is included under the topic Early Dann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dann Spelling Variations

Dann has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Dan, Dann, Danne, Dans, Danns, Dannes and others.

Early Notables of the Dann family

Notables of the family at this time include

Dann of Sussex

Dann Ranking

In the United States, the name Dann is the 8,660^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Dann family to Ireland

Some of the Dann 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.

Dann migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Danns to arrive on North American shores:

Dann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Heinrich Dann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 4

Dann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Dann, who arrived in New York in 1810 4
Miss A. Dann, (b. 1816), aged 25, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 3 June 1841 5
Johannes Dann, who arrived in Texas in 1845 4
Jacob Dann, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1870

Dann Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. James Dann, (b. 1883), aged 22, Cornish draper, from Penzance, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Caronia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 6th March 1905 en route to Yalesville, Conneticut, USA 6

Dann migration to Australia +

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

Dann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Dann, English convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Butcher Dann, English convict who was convicted in Ely (Isle of Ely), Cambrdigeshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 8
Nathaniel Dann, aged 22, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nabob"
Eliza Dann, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nabob"

Dann 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:

Dann Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Dann, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1850
Hannah Dann, aged 27, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1850
Mr. James Dann, (b. 1841), aged 17, English labourer from Cambridgeshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1859 9
Mr. Charles Dann, (b. 1831), aged 28, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 9
Mrs. Celia Dann, (b. 1832), aged 27, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dann (post 1700) +

Michael Harold Dann (1921-2016), American television executive, Vice President, Programs CBS (1963-1970)
Patty Dann (b. 1953), American novelist and nonfiction writer, best known for novel Mermaids, which was made into a movie starring Cher, Winona Ryder, Bob Hoskins and Christina Ricci
Wallace Dann (1847-1934), American politician, 10th Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut (1905-1907), Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1903-1904)
Marc Dann (b. 1962), American politician, Attorney General of Ohio (2007-2008)
Jack Dann (b. 1945), American science fiction writer who has lived in Australia since 1994
Wallace Dann, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Norwalk; Elected 1902 10
Reginald Walter "Reg" Dann (1916-1948), English professional footballer
Lance Dann (b. 1969), English sound artist, recipient of two Sony Radio Academy Awards
Thomas Oliver Dann (b. 1981), English cricketer who played from 2000 to 2001
Scott Dann (b. 1987), English footballer
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html