Gypson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Gypson family were born. Their name comes from the given name Gibb, which is a diminutive form of the name Gilbert. [1]

Early Origins of the Gypson family

The surname Gypson was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway), where they held a family seat from very early times.

Descended from a chieftain, Gilbert, probably Gilbert, Lord of Galloway, the Gibsons settled first at Lennox in Scotland, and in those early times was a formidable force to be encountered. The first official mention was when John Gibson surrendered the Castle of Rothesay in 1335. A few years later, Thomas Gibbeson was charged with breaking parole in 1358; and John Gybbessone was listed as a servitor of William Douglas when he was held hostage by Henry Vi in 1425.[1]

Later a branch of the family were well established in the sea-port and ancient burgh of barony of Levin in Fifeshire. "This place, which is agreeably situated on the sea-shore at the mouth of the river whence it takes its name, was erected into a burgh of barony by charter of the proprietor of the lands of Durie, now belonging to the Christies, but once in the possession of the family of Gibson, whose descendants, the lords Durie, are distinguished in Scottish history." [2]

Early History of the Gypson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gypson research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1600, 1615, 1690, 1637, 1717, 1696, 1698, 1702, 1562, 1644, 1590, 1488, 1513, 1540, 1656, 1644, 1693, 1669, 1748, 1668, 1701, 1644, 1702 and are included under the topic Early Gypson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gypson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Gypson has been spelled Gibson, Gibsone, Gibsons, Gipson, Gibsoun, Gipsone, Gibbson, Gibbsone, Gippson and many more.

Early Notables of the Gypson family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Richard Gibson (1615-1690), known as "Dwarf Gibson", a painter of portrait miniatures and a court dwarf in England during the reigns of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Charles II and William and Mary; Sir John Gibson, of Alderstone, in Ratho parish, near Edinburgh; and his son, Sir John Gibson (ca. 1637-1717), founder of the Gloucestershire Regiment and Member of Parliament for Portsmouth, 1696-1698 and 1702. Thomas Gibson (d. 1562), was an English printer, medical practitioner, and theological writer and a native of Morpeth, Northumberland. Sir Alexander Gibson , Lord Durie (d. 1644), was a Scottish judge...
Another 151 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gypson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gypson family to Ireland

Some of the Gypson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gypson migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Gypsons to arrive on North American shores:

Gypson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Benjamin Gypson, who arrived in New York in 1824 [3]

The Gypson 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: Recte et fideliter
Motto Translation: Just and faithful.

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)