Show ContentsIvison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ivison

What does the name Ivison mean?

The name Ivison is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal name Ivar, derived from the Old French name Ivar, which arrived in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Ivison was also derived from the Saint Ives, whose name was also found as St. Ives in Huntingdonshire. 1

The name is "probably connected with Ives, the saint who gave the title to St. Ives in Huntingdonshire (who, legend says, was a Persian bishop, and set up a hermitage on that spot), and Iva, similarly commemorated at St. Ives in Cornwall." 2

Early Origins of the Ivison family

The surname Ivison was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Walter filius Ive, Salop (Shropshire); William filius Ive, Cornwall; and Ive Hook, Huntingdonshire were all listed as holding lands at that time. 2

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Adam Iveson; Yvo Milner; and Yvo Pape. 2 3

Early History of the Ivison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ivison research. Another 184 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1115, 1383, 1444, 1454, 1485, 1560, 1592, 1597, 1600, 1601, 1602, 1620, 1653, 1662, 1674, 1690, 1708, 1773 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Ivison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ivison Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ivison has been spelled many different ways, including Iveson, Iverson, Ivison and others.

Early Notables of the Ivison family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Abraham Iverson (Iveson) English planter to America who acquired 655 acres of land on the southwest side of the North River, Gloucester County, Virginia and rose to become Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1653.William Ive or Ivy (d. 1485), was an English theologian who studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, and was afterwards a fellow and lecturer in theology there. He was head-master at Winchester College from 1444 to 1454. 4 Paul Ive (fl. 1602), was an English writer on fortification who appears to have been a member of Corpus Christi...
Another 144 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ivison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ivison migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Ivisons to arrive in North America:

Ivison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jera Ivison, who landed in Virginia in 1693 5
Ivison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry, Ivison Jr., who arrived in New York in 1833 5

Ivison migration to Australia +

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

Ivison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Ivison (post 1700) +

  • Sir Ivison Stevenson Macadam KCVO, CBE, FRSE (1894-1974), Scottish first Director-General of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), founding President of the National Union of Students
  • Ivison C. Burgess, American politician, Member of Arkansas State Senate 4th District, 1915-17 7


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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