Show ContentsNewland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There are several places named Newland in Britain including: a liberty in the parish of Hurst, Berkshire; a parish in Gloucestershire; a township in Lancashire; a parish in Worcestershire; and a hamlet in the East Rising of Yorkshire to list a few. Newlands is found in Cumberland, Derbyshire, Northumberland and Durham. 1

All have the same meaning: "new arable land," having derived from the Old English word "niwe," + land. The earliest seems to be found in Hertfordshire and Worcestershire which both date back to 1221. 2

Another source sums up the origin as someone "who dwelt on, or near, the newly cleared or newly acquired land; one who came from Newland, the name of various places in England." 3

Early Origins of the Newland family

The surname Newland was first found in Kent where Samson de la Niwelande was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1181. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has two listings of the family in Cambridgeshire: Roger de la Neuelonde and Richard le de Neulond. The same rolls includes entries for Thomas de la Neulaund, Essex and G. de Neuland, Lincolnshire. 5

Somerset records show William atte Niwelond, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign on King Edward III.) 6

Up in Scotland, "There was an old barony of Newlands in the sheriffdom of Kincardine, and a parish of the name in Peeblesshire, from either of which the surname may have been derived. The name was common in Glasgow in the sixteenth century, and common in the parish of Dalswinton till recent times. Jasper Newlands of that Ilk in record, 1469. Duncan Newlandis bailie of the burgh of Linlithgow, 1493, Peter Newlandis, witness there in 1537 (Johnstoun), and Kentigem Newlandis, witness in 1542." 7

Early History of the Newland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Newland research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1469, 1481, 1483, 1515, 1573, 1597, 1640, 1648, 1670, 1675, 1688, 1702, 1706, 1726, 1730, 1743, 1748, 1782 and 1807 are included under the topic Early Newland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Newland Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Newland are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Newland include: Newland, Newling, Newley, Nieland, Newlan and others.

Early Notables of the Newland family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • John Newland (d. 1515), Abbot of St. Augustine's, Bristol, was born at Newland in the Forest of Dean, whence he took his name; he was also called Nailheart, which may have been his parents' name, and...
  • Robert Newlyn (1597-1688), was an English clergyman and academic, President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford from 1640 to 1648; and Roger Newland of Newlands in Southampton who having failed to effec...
  • Abraham Newland (1730-1807), was Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, son of William Newland, miller and baker at Grove, Buckinghamshire. His father had twenty-five children by two wives. Elected a c...

Newland Ranking

In the United States, the name Newland is the 5,943rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Newland family to Ireland

Some of the Newland 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.


Newland migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Newland or a variant listed above:

Newland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Newland, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1637 9
  • Rebecca Newland who settled in Virginia in 1639
  • Richard Newland, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 9
  • Mary Newland who settled in Virginia in 1646
  • Richard Newland who settled in Virginia in 1653
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Newland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Newland, who settled in Maryland in 1719
  • Henry Newland, who settled in Virginia in 1774
Newland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ridgeway Newland, aged 47, who landed in New York in 1812 9
  • John Newland, aged 38, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 9
  • A Newland, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9

Newland migration to Australia +

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

Newland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Newland, British convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. James Newland, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. James Newland, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
  • Mr. John Newland, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Thomas Newland, (b. 1819), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1841 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Newland 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:

Newland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Timothy Newland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamar" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th January 1858 14
  • Mrs. Catherine Newland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamar" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th January 1858 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Newland (post 1700) +

  • Robert Vaughn "Bob" Newland (1948-2021), American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints (1971-1974)
  • William D. Newland (1841-1914), United States Navy sailor, recipient of the Medal of Honor
  • William Calhoun "Will" Newland (1860-1938), American attorney and politician, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (1909 to 1913)
  • John Newland (1917-2000), American director, actor, television producer, and screenwriter
  • Marv Newland, American-born, Canadian filmmaker who specializes in animation
  • David Edward Newland, English professor of engineering at the University of Cambridge (1976-1983)
  • Clint Newland (b. 1980), New Zealand Rugby Union player
  • Simpson Newland CMG (1835-1925), English-born, Australian pioneer, pastoralist, author and politician in the Murray River area
  • William Rupert Newland (1919-1998), New Zealand born, English studio potter
  • Martin Newland (b. 1961), British journalist, appointed editor of the British Daily Telegraph in 2003
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Ella L.  Newland (1895-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
  • Miss Winifred  Newland (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15


The Newland 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: Le Nom, les armes, la loyauté
Motto Translation: The Name, the arms, the loyalty.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. 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)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. 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)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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