Show ContentsSouthen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins of the Southen family

The surname Southen was first found in Suffolk at Sotherton, a parish, in the union and hundred of Blything. 1 This local name was derived from the term "the southern" meaning "from the south" and from the Middle English word "sothern." 2

Perhaps Chaucer in his famous Canterbury Tales sums up this surname best "But trusteth wel, I am a sothern man."

Early rolls proved the widespread spellings of the family from ancient times: Geoffrey le Sutherne in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1243; Robert le Sotherun in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297; John le Southeren in Yorkshire in 1307; Henry le Suthreen in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1325; Hugh and Henry le Sotheron in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327; Agnes le Southeron in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327; Richard Sothereran, a Freeman of York in 1352; and Thomas Sothryn in Yorkshire in 1387. 3

Sutherne was a spelling used in Scotland in early days as shown by "Thomas le Sutherne was received to the English king's peace in 1321." 4

Back in England, Yorkshire proved to be a popular county for the family as by the time of the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, we found: Willelmus Sothom; Willelmus Sotheron; Johannes Sotheron; and Ricardus Sothryn as all holding lands there at that time. 2

Early History of the Southen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Southen research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1584, 1660, 1676, 1678, 1682 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Southen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Southen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Southern, Sotherton, Sotherne, Sotheron and others.

Early Notables of the Southen family

John Southern or Soowthern (fl. 1584), and English "poetaster, seems to have been born in England, and was doubtless connected with the Shropshire family. He seems to...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Southen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Southen family to Ireland

Some of the Southen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 106 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Southen 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:

Southen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Southen, aged 29, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 5
  • Thomasine Southen, aged 25, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 5
  • Thomas Henry Uren Southen, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 5
  • Mrs. Thomasine Southen, (b. 1838), aged 25, Cornish settler departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 6
  • Mr. William Southen, (b. 1834), aged 29, Cornish farm labourer departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Southen (post 1700) +

  • Noeleen Southen, New Zealand National Bowls Championship in 1991
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf

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