Southon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Southon family

The surname Southon 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 Southon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Southon 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 Southon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Southon Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Southon family

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

Migration of the Southon family to Ireland

Some of the Southon 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.

Southon migration to Australia +

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

Southon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Southon, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836, he died on board 5
John Hoyles Southon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Southon (post 1700) +

Stephen Southon, English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1825 to 1826
The Reverend Arthur Eustace "A.E." Southon (1887-1964), English minister in the Methodist Church, and author
Mike Southon BSC, British cinematographer, past President of the British Society of Cinematographers
Mike Southon, British entrepreneur and author

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rajasthan.htm