Show ContentsJulian History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Julian family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the personal name Julian, which was both masculine and feminine in Old English. Consequently, both patronymic and metronymic surnames are derived from this name. The personal name Julian was originally derived from both the Latin masculine name Julianus and the Latin feminine name Juliana; these were both names of saints and enjoyed great popularity.

Early Origins of the Julian family

The surname Julian was first found in Cambridgeshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Julian family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Julian research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1574, 1591, 1743 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Julian History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Julian Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Julian include Julian, Jullian, Julyan, Juliane, Julion, Gillian and others.

Early Notables of the Julian family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Robert Gilion and Roger Juliane, prominent landholders in the 13th century

Julian World Ranking

In the United States, the name Julian is the 2,828th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Julian is ranked the 6,167th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Julian is the 741st popular surname with an estimated 975 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Julian family to Ireland

Some of the Julian 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.


Julian migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Julian were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Julian Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Julian, aged 43, who landed in Virginia in 1609 aboard the ship "Hercules" 4
  • Sara Julian, aged 25, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "Neptune" 4
  • William Julian to Virginia in 1623
  • Robert Julian, aged 20 who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Jacob"
  • Elizabeth Julian, who landed in Maryland in 1641 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Julian Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Julian, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1764 4
Julian Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Julian, who landed in Maryland in 1816 4
  • P. Julian to New York in 1823
  • Ignacio Julian, who landed in Texas in 1835 4
  • Juan Julian, aged 33, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1845 4
  • O H Julian, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Julian Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Frederick Julian, (b. 1876), aged 26, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 6th September 1902 en route to New Jersey, USA 5
  • Mr. John Wilfred Julian, (b. 1883), aged 20, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 26th April 1903 en route to Michigan, USA 5
  • Miss Millie Julian, (b. 1880), aged 24, Cornish domestic servant travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 20th October 1904 en route to Los Angelos, California, USA 5
  • Mr. Thomas Julian, (b. 1880), aged 25, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York in 1905 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA 5
  • Mrs. Jane Julian, (b. 1879), aged 26, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York in 1905 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA 5

Julian migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Julian Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Julian U.E. who settled in Western District [The townships of Essex County and Kent County], Ontario c. 1784 6

Julian migration to Australia +

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

Julian Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Julian, (b. 1818), aged 26, Cornish farm labourer travelling aboard the ship "William Mitcalfe" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 13th March 1844 7
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Julian, (b. 1821), aged 23, Cornish farm servant travelling aboard the ship "William Mitcalfe" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 13th March 1844 7
  • John Julian, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1849 8
  • John Julian, aged 37, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 8
  • Elizabeth Julian, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Joseph Somes" in 1850 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Julian 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:

Julian Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Ben Julian, (b. 1851), aged 27, Cornish farm labourer departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
  • Mrs. Mary Julian, (b. 1852), aged 27, Cornish settler departing on 19th July 1879 aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1879 10
  • Mrs. Mary Julian, (b. 1829), aged 50, Cornish settler departing on 19th July 1879 aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1879 10
  • Mr. Thomas Julian, (b. 1851), aged 28, Cornish farm labourer departing on 19th July 1879 aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1879 10
  • Mr. Thomas J. Julian, (b. 1877), aged 2, Cornish settler departing on 19th July 1879 aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1879 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Julian (post 1700) +

  • George Washington Julian (1889-1943), American politician who in 1856 he helped form the Republican party
  • Arthur Julian (d. 1955), American writer and actor, primarily wrote for '50s and '60s television shows which included 'Hogan's Heroes' and 'The Carol Burnett Show'
  • Alexander Julian (b. 1948), American designer
  • Platoon Sergeant Joseph Rodolph Julian (1918-1945), American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
  • William M. Julian, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • George Washington Julian (1817-1899), American politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1845; U.S. Representative from Indiana, 1849-51, 1861-71 11
  • Frederick E. Julian Jr., American politician, Mayor of Cohoes, New York, 1989 11
  • Frank Newsum Julian (1872-1944), American politician, Secretary of State of Alabama, 1907-10 11
  • Chaim Julian, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 2000 11
  • Betty L. Julian, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 11
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Henry Forbes Julian (d. 1912), aged 50, English First Class passenger from Torquay, Devon who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 12


Suggested Readings for the name Julian +

  • The Julian Family by Frances Julian Hine.
  • The Julians by Elizabeth Cate Manly.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  6. 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
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOSEPH SOMES / SOAMES 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JosephSomes.htm
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  12. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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