Show ContentsGander History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Gander

What does the name Gander mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Gander comes from when its first bearer worked as a choirmaster. Checking further we found the name was derived from the word cantor, the Latin word for precentor. The name could have also come from the Old English word gaunter which was the trade name of a glover, or one who makes gloves.

Early Origins of the Gander family

The surname Gander was first found in Oxfordshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Gander family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gander research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1273 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Gander History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gander Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Gander include Caunter, Canter, Ganter, Gaunter, Cantor, Cantour, Cauntor and many more.

Early Notables of the Gander family

More information is included under the topic Early Gander Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gander migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Gander or a variant listed above:

Gander Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Isaac Gander, who landed in New York in 1715 1
  • Hans Jacob Gander, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 1
  • Gottlieb Gander, who landed in America in 1753 1
  • Jacob Gander, who arrived in America in 1754 1
  • Augustinus Gander, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1755 1
Gander Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Gander, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1810 1
  • Jakob Gander, who arrived in Kentucky in 1881 1
  • Friedrich Gander, who arrived in Kentucky in 1890 1

Gander migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gander Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Louise Gander, who landed in Montreal in 1659
  • Marie Gander, who landed in Montreal in 1659
  • Anne Michelle Gander, who arrived in Montreal in 1659

Gander migration to Australia +

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

Gander Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Henry Gander, English convict from Sussex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 2
  • Mr. Charles Gander, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Christopher Gander, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orator" in 1849 4


The Gander 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: Quam non terret hyems
Motto Translation: Which winger does not nip with cold.


  1. 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)
  2. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canton
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ORATOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Orator.htm


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