Show ContentsDean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Dean Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Dean

What does the name Dean mean?

The name Dean has a history dating as far back as the the 14th century in Scotland where the name is thought to have been of local origin. "There is or was a place named Den in the perish of Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, and Dean in the parish of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was an ancient seat of the Boyds, Earls of Kilmarnock. Permission was granted in 1345 to Robert de Den, canon of Dunkeld, 'for leave to choose his confessor, who shall give him plenary absolution at the hour of death.' Johannes de Den in the parish of Fyvy was excommunicated in 1382." 1

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the English side of the family. In England, the name is very popular and as such was scattered through England by the 15th century. One source presumes the name to actually be Norman as in the Latin form, Decanus, William and Godfrey Decanus were listed there 1180-1189. 2 One might consider the northern England, particularly Yorkshire where there were at least three entries for the family in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 3

Early Origins of the Dean family

The surname Dean was first found in Aberdeenshire and/or Ayrshire.

Today there are two places of significance named Dean in Scotland: Dean, formerly a quoad sacra parish, partly in the parish of Corstorphine, but chiefly in that of St. Cuthbert, city and county of Edinburgh; and Dean the village, in the parish of Wilton, district of Hawick, county of Roxburgh. The latter has traditionally been very small with a population in the late 1800's of only 129 people. 4

Deanston in Perth is significantly larger and had a population of over 1,000 people at the same time. "This place appears to have originated in the establishment of some cotton-works on the south bank of the Teith, for which that copious and powerful stream afforded ample advantages, and in the consequent erection of a spacious village for the residence of the men employed in the concern." 4

Returning to the aforementioned Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire references, one of the family entered "in a bond of manrent dated 1703 by William Dean alias Davidson, 'miller at the King's Milne (and many other individuals), who and their ancestors, all named Deans, otherwise called Davidsons,' acknowledged themselves to be followers, dependents, and kinsmen under and to the lairds of Mackintosh."in a bond of manrent dated 1703 by William Dean alias Davidson, 'miller at the King's Milne (and many other individuals), who and their ancestors, all named Deans, otherwise called Davidsons,' acknowledged themselves to be followers, dependents, and kinsmen under and to the lairds of Mackintosh." 1

Early History of the Dean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dean research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1499, 1503, 1509, 1542, 1547, 1557, 1590, 1610, 1653, 1708 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Dean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dean Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dean, Deane, Dene, Deans, Deanes, Denes, Adeane and others.

Early Notables of the Dean family

  • Henry Deane, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord High Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547)
  • Richard Deane (1610-1653), a British naval general and major general for Cromwell
  • Deane, made Baron Muskerry of Ireland by Queen Anne in 1708

Dean World Ranking

the United States, the name Dean is the 236th most popular surname with an estimated 111,915 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Dean is ranked the 567th most popular surname with an estimated 8,715 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dean is the 486th popular surname with an estimated 97 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Dean as 196th with 16,557 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Dean as 287th with 2,105 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Dean as 189th with 29,671 people. 10

Migration of the Dean family to Ireland

Some of the Dean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dean migration to the United States +



Dean Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Stephen Dean, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1621 12
  • Walter Dean, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 12
  • William Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1637 12
  • Nicholas Dean, who settled in Virginia in 1654
  • Nich Dean, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Eliz Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1703 12
  • Jeams Dean, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 12
  • Jeany Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1705 12
  • Daniel Dean, who landed in New England in 1725 12
  • Barzillai Dean, who landed in New England in 1745 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Dean, who landed in New York in 1801 12
  • Thomas Dean, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 12
  • Hugh Dean, who arrived in New York in 1810 12
  • Stewart Dean, who landed in Maryland in 1812 12
  • Ramo Dean, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dean Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ephrane W Dean, who arrived in Arkansas in 1900 12
  • Mr. Edwin Dean, (b. 1869), aged 31, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th February 1900 en route to Ironwood, Michigan, USA 13

Dean migration to Canada +

Dean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Robert Dean, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • William Dean, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
  • Mr. Aaron Dean U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 14
  • Mr. Jacob Dean U.E. (b. 1738) born in New York who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1818 14
  • Mr. Josiah Dean U.E. who settled in Sophiasburgh & Ameliasburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1786 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dean Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Dean, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 15
  • Miss. Mary Dean who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 15
  • Mr. Peter Dean, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in May 1847 15
  • Mr. Patrick Dean who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing 15th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 16
  • Frederick Dean, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet
  • Miss Elizabeth Dean, (Deane), (1770 - 1829), aged 18, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, 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 11
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Robert Dean, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
Following the First and Second Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Dean Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Dean 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:

Dean Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Jabez Dean, (b. 1818), aged 21, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 22
  • Mrs. Dean, (b. 1820), aged 19, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 22
  • William Dean, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Jabez Dean, aged 21, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • Ann Dean, aged 19, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 23
Dean Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Abel Dean, who settled in Barbados in 1678
  • Henry Dean, who landed in Barbados in 1695 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Dean (post 1700) +

  • Ron Dean (1938-2025), American film and television actor, appeared in films including Rudy, Risky Business, The Breakfast Club, Cocktail, The Babe, The Fugitive, The Client, and The Dark Knight
  • Ruth Naomi Dean, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Freda Mae Dean (1921-6888), American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Carl Thomas Dean (1942-2025), husband of Dolly Parton since 1966, renewed their vows in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary (2016), rarely accompanied his wife to any public events, ran an asphalt road and driveway-paving business in Nashville
  • Clark Dean (b. 2000), American rower, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics
  • Randolph "Randy" Hume Dean (b. 1955), former American NFL football quarterback who played for three seasons for the New York Giants from 1977 to 1979
  • Robert Klein Dean (1955-2023), American handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics, identical twin brother of Randy Dean
  • Lynn Blackwell Dean (1923-2022), American politician from Louisiana, President of St. Bernard Parish (1992–1996), Member of the Louisiana State Senate (1996-2004)
  • Patrick Dean (1976-2021), American cartoonist and illustrator from Rome, Georgia
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Miss Kay Dean (1957-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Reporoa, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 24
  • Miss Harriet  Dean, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 25
  • Mr. George A Dean (b. 1922), English Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Eltham, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26
  • Mr. Cyril A J Dean (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Iffley, Oxfordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 27
  • Mr. James Dean, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27
  • ... (Another 12 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Dean 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: Vel arte, vel marte
Motto Translation: Either by art or strength

Suggested Readings for the name Dean +

  • A Family Tree in America: Being a Genealogical Story of the Families of Deane (also Dean), Putnam, Boynton, Gager, Bull, and Allied Families From the Year 1630 by Frank Putnam Deane.
  • My Maternal Ancestry: Dean, Matlock, Hale, Gahr Families in Tennesseeand Missouri by Melba Wood.
  1. 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)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  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. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  12. 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)
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 23)
  16. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 72)
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  19. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  24. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  25. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  26. 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
  27. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html

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