Nealson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Nealson

What does the name Nealson mean?

Among the the peoples of ancient Scotland, the first to use the name Nealson were the Strathclyde-Britons. Nealson was a name for someone who lived in Ayrshire. The Nealson family name is also a Scottish patronymic name created from the personal name Neill. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Néill meaning "descendant, or son of Niall."

Early Origins of the Nealson family

The surname Nealson was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Nealson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nealson research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1474 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Nealson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nealson Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Nealson has been spelled Neilson, Nielson, Nilson, Nylson and others.

Early Notables of the Nealson family

More information is included under the topic Early Nealson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Nealson family to Ireland

Some of the Nealson 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.

Nealson migration to Canada +

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them:

Nealson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Neals Nealson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Contemporary Notables of the name Nealson (post 1700) +

Otto Nealson, American politician, Candidate for Iowa State Senate 29th District, 1982 1

The Nealson 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: His regi servitium
Motto Translation: With these we render service to the king.

Sources +

The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html