Jackson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Jackson

What does the name Jackson mean?

The distinguished surname Jackson first emerged in the borderlands between England and Scotland. The name is related to the personal name Jack, a pet form of the popular "John," meaning "God has favored," and refers to "a son of Jack." 1

Early Origins of the Jackson family

The surname Jackson was first found in various shires throughout Britain including Cambridgeshire which listed two families in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Robert filius Jake; and Henricus filius Jake. By the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, the name had evolved to spellings that are closer to the ones used today: Johannes Jakson; Willelmus Jacson; Robertus Jackeson; and Willelmus Jakeson. 2

Early History of the Jackson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jackson research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1567, 1570, 1586, 1589, 1593, 1599, 1639, 1641, 1645, 1646, 1662, 1666, 1669, 1686, 1689, 1700, 1707, 1717, 1763, 1767, 1769, 1845 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jackson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jackson Spelling Variations

The name Jackson, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Jackson, Jaccson, Jacson, Jacksone, Jackston and others.

Early Notables of the Jackson family

Sir Anthony Jackson (1599-1666) was an English lawyer, soldier, knighted by Charles II, but later imprisoned in the Tower of London for over a decade
Henry Jackson (1586-1662), an English clergyman and literary editor
General Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the 7th President of the United States
John Jackson (fl.1700-1717), the first chaplain to the garrison at St John's, Newfoundland, and is credited with building the first Anglican church in Newfoundland

Jackson World Ranking

the United States, the name Jackson is the 13^rd most popular surname with an estimated 770,970 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Jackson is ranked the 67^th most popular surname with an estimated 34,130 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Jackson is the 513^rd popular surname with an estimated 90 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Jackson as 45^th with 41,631 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Jackson as 37^th with 5,550 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Jackson as 26^th with 114,155 people. 8 South Africa ranks Jackson as 511^st with 14,105 people. 9

Migration of the Jackson family to Ireland

Some of the Jackson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jackson migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Jackson family, or who bore a variation of the surname Jackson were

Jackson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Barnard Jackson, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Margaret & John", he died in 1624 11
Mr. Walter Jackson, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Southampton" 12
Mr. John Jackson, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Warwick" 12
Mrs. Ann Jackson, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Warwick" 12
Mr. John Jackson, British servant who arrived in Virginia prior to 1624 aboard the ship "Abigaile" 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Rowland Jackson, who landed in Virginia in 1700 11
Anthony Jackson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 11
Deborah Jackson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 11
Esther Jackson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 11
Anne Jackson, who landed in Virginia in 1705 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Montague Jackson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807 11
Luke Jackson, who arrived in America in 1811 11
Martin Jackson, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1812 11
Humphrey Jackson, aged 28, who arrived in Louisiana in 1812 11
Matthias Jackson, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1812-1813 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. William Jackson, (b. 1881), aged 21, Cornish miner from Redruth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 4th May 1902 en route to St Louis, Minnesota, USA 14
Mr. Robert J. Jackson, (b. 1884), aged 19, Cornish cable operator travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th April 1903 en route to Vancouver, British Columbia, USA 14
Ernest Jackson, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1913 11
Irvin Jackson, who landed in Alabama in 1915 11

Jackson migration to Canada +

Jackson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Wilson Jackson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Hanah Jackson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Eleanor Jackson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
Mr. Jackson U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as being executed for murder in 1785 in Saint John 15
Mr. Benjamin Jackson U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 400 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mathew Jackson, who landed in Canada in 1815
Adam Jackson, who sailed from Ireland to St. John's, Newfoundland on the brig Thomas Farrell in 1825
Isaac Jackson, who arrived in Canada in 1831
John Jackson, aged 36, a victualler, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
Leslie Jackson, aged 35, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Mr. John Jackson, (1759 - 1790), aged 30, British settler convicted at Lancaster, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 10
Mr. Samuel Jackson, (b. 1751), aged 38, British settler convicted at Derbyshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11

Second Fleet

Miss Ann Jackson, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to Life for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Mr. Henry Jackson, British settler convicted in London, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Mr. James Jackson, British settler convicted in Wiltshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing clothes, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Mr. Robert Jackson, British settler convicted in Derbyshire, England in 1790, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "William and Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Mr. William Jackson, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11

Third Fleet

Mr. William Jackson, (b. 1763), aged 24, English convicted in Durham, Durham on 19th July 1785, sentenced for 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787, died before they set sail 11
Miss Hannah Jackson, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in Bristol, England on 28th July 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 11
Miss Jane Jackson, (b. 1756), aged 31, English settler convicted in London on 29th June 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
Miss Mary Jackson, (b. 1765), aged 22, English settler convicted in London on 30th August 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
Mr. Thomas Jackson, British private as a Navy support for the First Fleet aboard the "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Jackson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Richard Jackson, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. Thomas Jackson, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mrs. Sarah Jackson, (b. 1753), aged 45, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17

Jackson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Jackson, (b. 1765), aged 35, 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, he died in 1840 18
Mr. John Jackson, (b. 1771), aged 29, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1840 18
Miss Frances Jackson, (b. 1775), aged 28, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
Mr. Ralph William Jackson, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
Mr. Henry Jackson, (b. 1783), aged 22, British settler who was convicted in Essex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Fortune And Alexander" on 31st December 1805, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson 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:

Jackson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Jackson, who landed in Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand in 1830
Mr. Jackson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 21
Mrs. Jackson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 21
Henry Jackson, aged 22, a gardener, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cuba" in 1840
James Jackson, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jackson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 23

Jackson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Richard Jackson, (b. 1617), aged 17, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 11
Mr. William Jackson, aged 30, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 11
Mr. Charles Jackson, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 24
Mr. James Jackson, (b. 1602), aged 33, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Peter Bonaventure" arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 24
Mr. John Jackson, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 25
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jackson (post 1700) +

Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009), American recording artist, dancer, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist 26
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863), Confederate general during the American Civil War
Mary Jackson (1921-2005), née Winston, American mathematician and aerospace engineer (NACA) and (NASA), posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019
Anthony Claiborne Jackson (1952-2025), American bassist, performed as a session musician and live artist, credited with the development of the modern six-string bass, referred to as an electric contrabass guitar
Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885), American poet, writer and activist on behalf of the improved treatment of Native Americans by the United States government, known for her popular novel Ramona (1884) which dramatized the federal government's mistreatment of Native Americans in Southern California
Minnie Grace Jackson (1918-2010), née Cross, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Alan Eugene Jackson (b. 1958), American country artist who has sold over 50 million records, into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018
Tom Jackson (1948-2025), American college football player and coach
Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (1953-2024), American musician, original member of the Jackson 5
... (Another 88 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Jackson family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Adrian D Jackson (1966-1985), American Private from Los Angeles, California, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 27
John Jackson, British crew who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
Mr. Charles E. Jackson, British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 28
Mr. James Jackson, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 29
Miss Patricia Jackson (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 30
... (Another 53 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

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)
"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
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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
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Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
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 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
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 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Michael Jackson. (Retrieved 2011, July 14) Michael Jackson. Retrieved from http://www.michaeljackson.com/ca/home
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
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