Show ContentsSouth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the South family

The surname South was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, as Lords of the manor of Ferraby, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the South family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our South research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1634, 1636, 1676 and 1716 are included under the topic Early South History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

South Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: South, Sowthe and others.

Early Notables of the South family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • John South, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Charles II

South Ranking

In the United States, the name South is the 2,723rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1


South migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

South Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Christ South, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 2
  • Thomas South, who arrived in Maryland in 1649 2
  • John and William South who settled in Virginia in 1650
  • William South, who landed in Virginia in 1655 2
  • Abraham South, who arrived in Maryland in 1660 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
South Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary South and her husband William settled in Maryland in 1733
South Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis South, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2
  • Francis J South, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 2
  • Frederick J South, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 2
  • Mr. David South, aged 43, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • William South, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1875

South migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

South Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John South, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752

South migration to Australia +

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

South Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James South, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Mr. Charles South, English convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
  • Thomas South, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 5
  • Delia South, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 5
  • Henry James South, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

South 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:

South Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Ann South, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 6
  • Miss Ann South, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 6
  • Mr. Thomas South, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 6
  • Frank C. South, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sydenham" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name South (post 1700) +

  • Joe South (1940-2012), born Joseph Alfred Souter, American Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • John Flint South (1797-1882), English surgeon, eldest son by his second wife of James South, a druggist in Southwark, London
  • Sir Arthur South, Lord Mayor of Norwich
  • Melanie South (b. 1986), British tennis player
  • Seán South (1929-1957), Irish Republican Army leader
  • Sir James South (1785-1867), British astronomer, recipient of the Copley Medal (1826) and the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1826)
  • Harry South (1929-1990), British composer
  • South Strong (1880-1939), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Kentucky State Constitutional Convention, 1912; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1912
  • South Trimble (1864-1946), American politician, U.S. Representative from Kentucky, 27th and 29th Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
  • South Carolina, 1871-72; Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, 1872; U.S. Representative from South Carolina 2nd District, 1873-75 7

Empress of Ireland
  • Mrs. Elsie Marian South (1891-1914), née Roberts English Second Class Passenger from London, England, United Kingdom aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 8
  • Mr. Harold Neville South (1885-1914), English Second Class Passenger from London, England, United Kingdom aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 8
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Charles Braxton South, American Seaman First Class from Alabama, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 9


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canton
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  9. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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