Show ContentsMagson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Magson

What does the name Magson mean?

The surname Magson is a nickname of Madge and baptismal name as in 'the son of Margaret.' 1

Early Origins of the Magson family

The surname Magson was first found in Surrey where William Maggard was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. 2

From this earliest entry we must move to Yorkshire to find the next two entries. It is here that Willelmus Machet was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 1 and later, Samuel Maggett was listed in 1647. 2

Early History of the Magson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Magson research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1379, 1526, 1670, 1736, 1737, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1798, 1799 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Magson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Magson Spelling Variations

Magson has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Magson have been found, including Machet, Machett, Madgett, Madget, Machitt, Machtit, Matchet and many more.

Early Notables of the Magson family

Distinguished members of the family include John Machet, Rector of Lambeth, county Surrey, in 1526.Nicholas Madgett of Madget (fl. 1799), was an Irish adventurer, born at Kinsale, co. Kerry, and was according to a secret correspondent of Lord Castlereagh-probably Samuel Turner in 1799, at the time of Humbert's expedition to Ireland, near sixty years of age, and had lived for forty years in France. He was employed in the French foreign office in 1794 and the succeeding years in negotiating measures between the French government and Irish politicians for a French invasion of Ireland. In 1794 he gave William Jackson (1737?-1795)...
Another 364 words (26 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Magson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Magson family to Ireland

Some of the Magson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Magson migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Magsons to arrive on North American shores:

Magson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jon Magson, who landed in Virginia in 1643 3
  • Margaret Magson, who arrived in Maryland in 1669 3
Magson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Saul Jos Magson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1825 3

Magson 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:

Magson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Magson, (b. 1844), aged 21, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastern Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 4th January 1865 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Magson (post 1700) +

  • Egbert H. Magson, British Headmaster at Truro School, Truro, Cornwall (1921-1946)
  • Eric Magson, British manager of York City F.C. in the late 1960s
  • Terry Magson, London-born, British singer/songwriter in the Isle of Wight, known for his Puzzle Muteson
  • David William Magson MBE (b. 1945), Australian mathematician and businessman, member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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)
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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