Contents [hide]

Jameson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Jameson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Jameson family. Their name comes from "son of James". 1

Early Origins of the Jameson family

The surname Jameson was first found in on the Isle of Bute, where "a family named Jamieson or Neilson held the office of Crowner of Bute from the beginning of the fourteenth century or earlier to the seventeenth century. He was granted lands by Robert the Bruce for his services rendered to the King. King James II confirmed these grants later and further bestowed on the Jamiesons other territories on the Isle of Arran, particularly that of Over Kilmory. The office of Coroner (Crowner) was hereditary with the family. " 2

Other early records include: Alexander Jemison who had a safe conduct to trade with England in 1445, William Jamyson who was tenant of Pollock in 1472, and John Jamesone was repledged to liberty of the burgh of Irvine in the same year.

Further to the south, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus Jamessson; Johannes Jamesman (i.e. the servant of James); and Henricus Jamsman, 1379. 3

Early History of the Jameson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jameson research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1528, 1539, 1587, 1588, 1644, 1676, 1677, 1685, 1689, 1700, 1720, 1769, 1780 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jameson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jameson Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Jameson has been written as Jamieson, Jameson, Jamison, Jamyson, Jimisone and many more.

Early Notables of the Jameson family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

George (Jamesone) Jameson (c. 1587-1644), Scotland's first eminent portrait-painter. "Born at Aberdeen, probably in 1588 (Bulloch, George Jamesone, p. 32), he was second son of Andrew Jamesone, master...
William Jameson (fl. 1689-1720), was "lecturer on history at Glasgow University and presbyterian controversialist, was born blind, but, being educated at the university of Glasgow, he 'atteaned to gre...

Jameson Ranking

In the United States, the name Jameson is the 2,220^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Jameson family to Ireland

Some of the Jameson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jameson migration to the United States +

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Jameson or a variant listed above:

Jameson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

David Jameson, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1651 5
Neile Jameson, who arrived in America in 1652 5
William Jameson, who landed in Maryland in 1679 5
Archbald Jameson, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 5

Jameson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Jameson, who landed in New England in 1717 5
Hugh Jameson, who arrived in New England in 1740 5
Walter Jameson, who arrived in Virginia in 1764 5
Robert Jameson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1772 5

Jameson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Day Jameson, who arrived in America in 1805 5
Agnus Jameson, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
Samuel Jameson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 5
Thomas Jameson, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1812 5
Alexander Jameson, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1812-1813 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jameson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. John Jameson, (b. 1882), aged 23, Cornish labourer from Callington, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th May 1905 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA 6

Jameson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jameson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Jameson U.E. who settled in Digdeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1793 he served in the 74th Highlanders Regiment 7

Jameson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Jameson, aged 34, a shoemaker, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
William Jameson, aged 24, a weaver, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
William Jameson, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Miss. Eliza Ann Jameson, aged 12 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Seaton" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 30th June 1847 8

Jameson migration to Australia +

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

Jameson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. David Jameson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
William Jameson, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
R.G. Jameson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Surrey" in 1838 11

Jameson 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:

Jameson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Jane Jameson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st May 1863 12
Mr. James Jameson, (b. 1861), aged 4, Cornish settler from Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 12
Miss Agnes Jameson, (b. 1858), aged 7, Cornish settler from Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 12
Mr. John Jameson, (b. 1838), aged 27, Cornish labourer from Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 12
Mrs. Jane Jameson, (b. 1837), aged 28, Cornish settler from Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Tudor" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th September 1865 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jameson (post 1700) +

John Jameson, Irish founder of Jameson Irish Whiskey, Bow Street Distillery, Dublin in 1780
Sir Leander Starr Jameson KCMG, CB (1853-1917), 1st Baronet, known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", a British colonial statesman, best known for his involvement in the eponymous Jameson Raid
Elizabeth May "Betty" Jameson (1919-2009), American professional golfer and one of the founders of the LPGA
Helen MacKay Jameson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 15th District, 1952, 1954
Ernest Jameson, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Scott County Democratic Party, 1950
Edward Lester Jameson (1884-1960), American Democratic Party politician, Speaker of the Arizona State House of Representatives, 1947-48
Donald Ovid Butler Jameson (1891-1967), American politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1917-18
David Jameson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2000
David Jameson (1723-1793), American politician, Member of Virginia State Senate, 1783
Charles William Jameson (b. 1939), American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1972; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1972
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Jameson 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: Ad littora tendit
Motto Translation: It makes for the shore.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)
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/
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)
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
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 35)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SURRY/SURREY 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Surry-Surrey.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html