Show ContentsMason History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Mason Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Mason

What does the name Mason mean?

The distinguished surname Mason can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Piedmont. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Piedmont is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Mason came from the first-name Maso, which is the short form of the personal name Tommaso. The name Tommaso, or Thomas, is itself derived from the Aramaic "toma" which means "twin".

Early Origins of the Mason family

The surname Mason was first found in Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte, Piedmontese and Occitan: Piemont) in the 13th century where early records show the Masini family, decedents of a long line of counts, lived and whose members included Oddone, elected captain of the commune in 1284, and Oddonnino, governor of a town, Vercelli, in 1290.

Early History of the Mason family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mason research. The years 1383 and 1401 are included under the topic Early Mason History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mason Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Mason include Masella, Maselli, Masellis, Masetti, Masetto, Masi, Masiello, Masillo, Masin, Masina, Masini, Masino, Masiol, Maso, Masolini, Masolo, Mason, Masoni, Masotti, Masselli, Massetti, Massini, Masucci, Masuccio, Masulli, Masullo, Masutti, Masutto and many more.

Early Notables of the Mason family

members of the Mason family from the Piedmontese tradition include Tommaso Guidi Masaccio, who was born in 1401, and is a painter known as the Father of Modern Art. He was a member of the Florentine school, and has works from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. He was a student of Masolino and under this master, aided in the frescoing of two churches: San Clemente in Rome and the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine at Florence. The Brancacci frescoes were so well done that they...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mason Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mason World Ranking

the United States, the name Mason is the 135th most popular surname with an estimated 169,116 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Mason is ranked the 237th most popular surname with an estimated 16,898 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Mason is the 486th popular surname with an estimated 97 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Mason as 105th with 25,284 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Mason as 89th with 4,259 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Mason as 79th with 56,811 people. 6

Mason migration to the United States +

Immigrants bearing the name Mason or a variant listed above include:

Mason Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Francis Mason, aged 40, who arrived in Virginia in 1613 aboard the ship "John & Francis" 8
  • Jon Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 8
  • Ann Mason, who landed in Virginia in 1621 8
  • Peter Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 8
  • Robert Homer Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mason Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Elinor Mason, who landed in Virginia in 1701 8
  • Fra Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 8
  • Geo Mason, who landed in Virginia in 1704 8
  • Eliz Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 8
  • Cha Mason, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mason Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Mason, who landed in America in 1801-1802 8
  • Maria Mason, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 8
  • Daniel Mason, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 8
  • Mad Mason, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 8
  • Rodding Mason, who landed in Texas in 1835 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason migration to Canada +

Mason Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Nathaniel Mason, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Robert Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Aaron Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Charles Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Isaac Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mason Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Mason, who arrived in Canada in 1831
  • Betty Mason, aged 46, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
  • Thomas Mason, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
  • James Mason, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
  • Catherine Mason, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1843
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason 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. William Mason, (d. 1795), British settler convicted at Middlesex, 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 7
  • Mr. Paul Mason, (1742 - 1791), aged 47, British settler convicted at Cheshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8
  • Mr. John Mason, (1762 - 1792), aged 27, British settler convicted at Kent, England in 1786, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8
Second Fleet
  • Mr. David Mason, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 14 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
  • Miss Elizabeth "Betty" Mason, (1759 - 1809), aged 31, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Third Fleet
  • Miss Betty Mason, (b. 1765), aged 22, English settler convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire on 23rd March 1785, sentenced for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8
  • Miss Susannah Mason, (b. 1737), aged 50, English settler convicted in London on 13th January 1786, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Mason Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Miss Sarah Mason, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Bellona" in July 1792, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. William Mason, Irish farmer who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 10
  • Mr. George Mason, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mason Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mason 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:

Mason Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Mason, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Dublin Packet" arriving in Cloudy Bay, South Island, New Zealand in 1838 14
  • Frederick Mason, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Henry Mason, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Samuel Mason, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Sydney Mason, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mason 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. 15
Mason Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Beniamin Mason, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 16
  • Mr. Richard Mason, (b. 1606), aged 29, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 17
  • Mr. John Mason, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 18
  • Mr. John Mason, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship "Falcon" arriving in Barbados in 1636 16
  • Charles Mason, who settled in Barbados in 1654
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mason (post 1700) +

  • Raymond A. "Chip" Mason (1936-2025), American financier, the founder, chairman and CEO of Baltimore-based investment firm Legg Mason until 2007, founded the brokerage company at age 25, and went public in 1974
  • Brittni Mason (b. 1998), American Paralympic sprinter
  • David Gray Mason (1942-1943), American politician elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives (1973-1977)
  • Jackie Mason (1928-2021), born Yacov Moshe Maza, an American stand-up comedian and film and television actor
  • Emily Mason (1932-2019), American abstract painter, daughter of Alice Mason
  • Marilyn May Mason (1925-2019), American concert organist, recording artist, and professor, from Alva, Oklahoma
  • Gina Marie Mason (1959-2017), née Crafts, an American politician, Member of the Maine House of Representatives (since 2017)
  • Anthony George Douglas Mason (1966-2015), American professional basketball player who played from 1988 to 2003
  • George Mason IV (1725-1792), American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, called the "Father of the Bill of Rights" and one of the "Founding Fathers" of the United States
  • ... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Robert Mason (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 19
  • Roy Mason (1911-1985), from Silsden who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire
  • Master Howard Mason (d. 1914), English Third Class Passenger from Manchester, England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 20
  • Mrs. J. Mason (d. 1914), English Third Class Passenger from Manchester, England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
  • Mr. Vernon R A Mason (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Malvern, Worcestershire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21
  • ... (Another 14 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Mason +

  • Yesterday, a History of Norwegian Ancestry by Evelyn Hoff.
  • The Five George Masons by Pamela C. Copeland.
  • John Mason and Mary Ann Miller by Floyd R. Mason.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. 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)
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  8. 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)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bellona
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  16. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  18. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  19. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  20. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  21. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm

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