Contents [hide]

Green History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Green History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Green is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the village greene which was the center or main square of each region. It is derived from the Old English "grene," meaning "green," and was most likely first borne by a family who lived in the village greene, the center or main square of a region. Alternatively, it may have been bestowed as a nickname on someone who was particularly fond of dressing in green. [1]

Early Origins of the Green family

The surname Green was first found in Kent, where the earliest record of the name was Geoffrey Greene who was recorded in a Poll Tax in 1188. As every early English village had a green, the surname Green emerged independently in many different places during the Middle Ages, thus creating several early branches of the Green family. Richard de la Grene was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1200 and Geoffrey Attegrene was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1206. [2] The prefix "atte" was a popular namesake which meant in this case "at the green." [1]

Years later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Deonisia ate Grene and Warin de la Grene; while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Petnis del Grene and Adam del Grene, as holding lands there at that time. [3]

Records in Scotland were very scarce, but we did find "Roger del ('of the') Grene in Roxburghshire [who] rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]. Master John Grene, [was] Chancellor of Moray, 1463." [4]

Early History of the Green family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Green research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1461, 1506, 1462, 1558, 1592, 1636, 1685, 1620, 1708, 1690, 1700, 1614, 1702, 1630, 1679, 1705 and are included under the topic Early Green History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Green Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Green were recorded, including Greene, Green, Grene, Grean and others.

Early Notables of the Green family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas de Green (c.1461-1506), Lord of Greens Norton, received Boughton, Greens Norton, and large monetary grants through his inheritance upon the death of his father in 1462; Dr. John Green, the Bishop of Lincoln; Sir William Greene of Oxford, Alderman Greene of Chester; Robert Greene (1558-1592), English dramatist; John Henry Green (1636-1685), an English...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Green Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Green World Ranking

In the United States, the name Green is the 35^th most popular surname with an estimated 455,121 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Green is ranked the 75^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,252 people with that name. [6] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Green is the 34^th popular surname with an estimated 618 people with that name. [7] Australia ranks Green as 39^th with 45,340 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Green as 59^th with 5,037 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Green as 19^th with 120,596 people. [10] South Africa ranks Green as 470^th with 15,171 people. [11]

Migration of the Green family to Ireland

Some of the Green family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Green migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Green family emigrate to North America:

Green Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Green, who arrived in Maryland in 1634 [12]
Mr. George Greene, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo [13]
Ellin Green, aged 32, who arrived in New England in 1635 [12]
Percivall Green, aged 32, who landed in America in 1635 [12]
Samuel Green, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1635 [12]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Green Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jane Green, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [12]
Phillis Green, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [12]
Lawrence Green, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [12]
Sarah Green, who landed in Virginia in 1717 [12]
Patrick Green, who landed in Rutland, Massachusetts in 1741 [12]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Green Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joachim Green, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1801 [12]
Sally Green, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 [12]
Mary Green, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1812 [12]
Mathew Green, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1812 [12]
James Chls Green, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 [12]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Green migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Green Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Benjamin Green, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Ann Green, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Cuff Green, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
Mr. Charles Green U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [14]
Mr. John Green U.E. who settled in Marysburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1784 [14]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Green Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry Green, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1810
Reginald Green, aged 31, who landed in Canada in 1815
Rose Green, aged 24, who landed in Canada in 1823
Abigail Green, aged 25, who arrived in Canada in 1823
Anne Green, aged 23, who landed in Canada in 1823
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Green migration to Australia +

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

Green Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Ann Green, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]

Green Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Dennis Green, (b. 1782), aged 18, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1855 [16]
Mr. Thomas Green, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]
Mr. John Green, (Lawrence, Robert), British convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
Mr. Thomas Green, (b. 1785), aged 18, British convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1812 [17]
Mr. John Green, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Green 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:

Green Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Green, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Isaac Green, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
James Green, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
James Green, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Andrew Green, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Green (post 1700) +

Allen Leldon Green (1938-2023), American NFL football punter and placekicker for the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers
Michael Green (1954-2023), American molecular biologist and cell biologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School
Jeremiah Martin Green (1977-2022), American musician, founding member and drummer of the indie rock band Modest Mouse from 1993 to March 2003, and again from May 2004 until his death in December 2022
Justin Considine Green (1945-2022), American cartoonist, the "father of autobiographical comics", best known for his 1972 comic book Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary
David Alejandro Green Casaya (1960-2022), Nicaraguan-born American Major League Baseball player who played outfielder and first baseman, between 1981 and 1987
Julie L. Green (1961-2021), American artist known for making paintings about food, fashion, and capital punishment; each year she spent 6 months on her work, The Last Supper, a series of 1000 plates to date, illustrating final meals of U.S. death row inmates
Doug Green (1954-1955), American politician, Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 66th district (2013-2020)
Nathan "Nearest" Green (b. 1820), American slave who mentored distilling techniques to Jack Daniel, founder of the Jack Daniel Tennessee whiskey distillery, the first master distiller for Jack Daniel Distillery
Paul Eliot Green Jr. (b. 1924), American electrical engineer, famous for his research in spread spectrum and radar technology and the son of the playwright of the same name
Leonard Charles "Lenny" Green (1933-2019), American Major League Baseball player for 12 seasons (1957-1968)
... (Another 59 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Green family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Frederick George Green, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking [19]
Miss Jessie Green (1893-1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [20]
Mr. Ernest Green (1892-1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland [20]
Mrs. Florence Green (1885-1914), née Roberts Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland [20]
Mrs. Adjt Green (1869-1914), née Adams Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [20]
... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flight 191

Mrs. Judy Green (d. 1979), American passenger from USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash [21]

Fraterville mine

Mr. P. C. Green (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died [22]
Mr. James C. Green (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died [22]
Mr. Richard Green (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died [22]

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Edward A. Green (1848-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [23]
Mr. Calvin W. Green (1883-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [23]
Master William Green (1916-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries [23]

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Arthur Eric Green (1913-1941), Australian Acting Stoker Petty Officer from West End, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [24]
Mr. John Rex Green (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Kew, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [24]
Mr. Theo Lawrence Green (1922-1941), Australian Cook (O) from Petersham, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [24]

HMS Dorsetshire

Thomas Green (d. 1945), British Marine aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [25]

HMS Hood

Mr. William J Green (b. 1903), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Southampton, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [26]
Mr. William J Green (b. 1922), English Ordinary Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Kings Heath, Birmingham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [26]
Mr. John H Green (b. 1916), English Ordinary Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [26]
Mr. Herbert Green (b. 1923), English Signal Boy serving for the Royal Navy from Sunderland, County Durham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [26]
Mr. Harry Green (b. 1920), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Fallowfield, Manchester, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [26]
... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Frederick Charles Green (b. 1916), English Able Seaman from Wiltshire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [27]
Mr. Thomas Frederick Green, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [27]
Mr. Ernest Green, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [27]

HMS Repulse

Mr. Alexander Green, "Alec" British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [28]
Mr. Frederick W Green, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [28]
Mr. William C Green, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [28]

HMS Royal Oak

Reginald C. Green, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [29]
C. Green, British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [29]
Roy Green (1919-1939), British Musician with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [29]
Frank Green (1919-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [29]
Albert Frank Green (1920-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [29]

RMS Titanic

Mr. George Green (d. 1912), aged 20, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [30]
Mr. George Henry Green (d. 1912), aged 40, English Third Class passenger from Dorking, Surrey who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [30]

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Gomer Green (b. 1887), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

SS Newfoundland

Mr. Ariel Green (b. 1895), Newfoundlander from Hant's Harbour, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
Mr. Charles W. Green, Newfoundlander from St. John's, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived

USS Arizona

Mr. James W. Green, American Gunner's Mate Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking [31]
Mr. Clay D. Green Jr., American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking [31]
Mr. Glen Hubert Green, American Seaman First Class from Mississippi, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [31]

The Green 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: Virtus semper viridis
Motto Translation: Virtue is always flourishing.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
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
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
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
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html