| ![Show Contents]() Greeson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of GreesonWhat does the name Greeson mean? In ancient Scotland, the first people to use the name Greeson were part of a tribe known as the Strathclyde Britons. The name is derived from Grier, a pet form of the given name Gregory, which means watchful. 1 2 Early Origins of the Greeson familyThe surname Greeson was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. "The Griersons of Lag, Dumfriesshire, claim descent from Gilbert, second son of Malcolm, dominus de MacGregor, who is said to have died in 1374, but, says Col. Fergusson, 'there is no evidence or foundation for the story commonly current that this family was an offshoot of the Highland family of MacGregor.' " 3 Early History of the Greeson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greeson research. Another 321 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1232, 1250, 1408, 1411, 1429, 1451, 1502, 1526, 1547, 1557, 1564, 1590, 1608, 1623, 1654, 1655, 1657, 1671, 1677, 1704, 1709, 1711, 1733 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Greeson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Greeson Spelling VariationsPrior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Greeson has been spelled Grierson, Greson, Greyson, Grayson, Greirson and others. Early Notables of the Greeson familyNotable amongst the family at this time was John Grierson or Grisson (died 1564?), a Scottish Dominican who is believed to have been from the family of Grierson of Lag in Dumfriesshire. 4Sir Robert Grierson of Lag (1657-1733), was 1st Baronet of Baronets of Lag & Rockhall, Dumfriesshire. He was "persecutor of the covenanters, was descended from an old Dumfriesshire family which claimed as an ancestor the highland chief Malcolm, lord of Macgregor, the friend and ally of Robert Bruce. The lands of Lag are said to have been bestowed on Gilbert Grierson by Henry, earl of...
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Greeson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Greeson RankingIn the United States, the name Greeson is the 9,024th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 Migration of the Greeson family to IrelandSome of the Greeson 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.
| Greeson migration to the United States | + |
In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them:
Greeson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mary A. Greeson, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Greeson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Myzie Greeson, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Kilkenny, Kilkee Co. Clare, in 1905
- Nellie Greeson, aged 49, who landed in America from Kilkee, Ireland, in 1910
- Annie Greeson, aged 18, who settled in America from Kilkee, Ireland, in 1910
- Florence Greeson, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States from Kilkee, Ireland, in 1910
- Myrelle Greeson, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1911
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Greeson 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: Greeson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. Greeson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 6
- Mrs. Greeson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 6
- Miss. C. Greeson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 6
- Mrs. H. B. Greeson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 6
- Miss N. H. Greeson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Greeson (post 1700) | + |
- Todd Greeson (b. 1971), American politician, Member of the Alabama House of Representatives (1998-)
- Martin White Greeson (b. 1866), American developer and eponym of Lake Greeson, Arkansas
- Greg M. Greeson, American automotive designer and entrepreneur, founder of Eurway in 1980
- Janet Greeson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Nevada 2nd District, 1994 7
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: Hoc securior
Motto Translation: Safer by this.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- 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)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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