Henderson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Henderson

What does the name Henderson mean?

The name Henderson is a patronymic name denoting "son of Henry." While most of the family hail from Scotland, as a Border Clan some of the family claimed England and Wales as their homeland. "The Border Clan of Henderson are found as Hendirsonne, Henresoun, Henryesson. and Hendersonne in documents of the 16th and 17th centuries." 1

Early Origins of the Henderson family

The surname Henderson was first found in Yorkshire where Thomas Hendeson was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 1

Early History of the Henderson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henderson research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1374, 1783, 1797, 1817, 1819, 1820, 1821, 1848 and 1878 are included under the topic Early Henderson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Henderson Spelling Variations

Italian surnames come in far more variations than the names of most other nationalities. Regional traditions and dialects are a decisive factor in this characteristic. For example, northern names tend to end in "o", while southern in "i". Also important, but not unique to Italy, was the fact that before dictionaries and the printing press most scribes simply spelled words according to their sounds. The predictable result was an enormous number of spelling variations. The recorded spellings of Henderson include Henderson, Henreyson, Henryson, MacKendrick and many more.

Early Notables of the Henderson family

James Henderson (1783?-1848), English writer on Brazil, born about 1783, was a native of Cumberland or Westmorland. On 11 March 1819 he sailed from England to Rio de Janeiro, where he waited upon Henr...
John Henderson (1797-1878), collector of works of art and archæologist, born in Adelphi Terrace, London, in 1797, was son of John Henderson and Georgiana Jane, only child of George Keate, F.R.S. His f...

Henderson World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Henderson is the 111^st most popular surname with an estimated 43,537 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Henderson is ranked the 99^th most popular surname with an estimated 25,950 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Henderson is the 62^nd popular surname with an estimated 4,993 people with that name. 4 Canada ranks Henderson as 143^rd with 23,218 people. 5 The United States ranks Henderson as 81^st with 236,265 people. 6

Henderson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Third Fleet

Mr. Robert Henderson, British seaman on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Henderson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. James Henderson, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Henderson, (b. 1778), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7

Henderson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Henderson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Samuel Henderson, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mrs. Mary Henderson, (b. 1804), aged 25, Irish dairy maid who was convicted in Fermanagh, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Joseph Henderson, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. James Henderson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson 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:

Henderson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Maxwell Henderson, aged 29, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Catherine Henderson, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
David Henderson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Thomas Henderson, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
William Henderson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Henderson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Francis and William Henderson, who arrived in Barbados in 1680

Henderson migration to Canada +

Henderson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Charles Henderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Nathaniel Henderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
William Henderson, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Sarah Henderson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Robert Henderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Henderson, who arrived in Canada in 1817
John Henderson, who arrived in Canada in 1820
Charlotte Henderson, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
Henry Henderson, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
Ann Jane Henderson, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson migration to the United States +

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Henderson, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1607 14
Alex Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1650 14
Gilbert Henderson, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 14
John Henderson, who arrived in Maryland in 1655 14
Henrick Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1657 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1704 14
John Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1705 14
Jacob Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1710 14
Charles Henderson, who was banished to Virginia in 1716
Robert Henderson, who landed in Maryland in 1716 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Henderson, who landed in America in 1800 14
Samuel Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1800 14
James Henderson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 14
David Henderson, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 14
Ann Henderson, aged 8, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Hamilton McKennie Henderson, who arrived in Alabama in 1917 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Henderson (post 1700) +

Donald Ainslie "D. A." Henderson (1928-2016), American physician, educator, and epidemiologist, best known for his tireless effort to eradicate smallpox for which he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002) and numerous other awards
Ray Henderson (1937-2024), English footballer
Don Henderson (1932-1997), English actor
Charles Gordon Henderson (1900-1933), English historian and antiquarian of Cornwall
Andrew Henderson (b. 1941), former English cricketer
Andrew James Henderson (b. 1950), English-born, palm-systematist and Curator of the Institute of Systematic Botany at the New York Botanical Garden
John Henderson (1938-2025), Australian rules footballer, played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League
Brooke Mackenzie Henderson (b. 1997), Canadian PGA professional golfer from Smith Falls, Ontario, winner of 13 LPGA Tour events
Dale Henderson (1966-2025), American musician, known as the frontman and guitarist of the crossover thrash band Beowülf where he was the only constant member, composed the music and wrote the lyrics on all of Beowülf's albums
... (Another 285 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Henderson family +

Centaur

Leslie James Henderson (1912-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
Mr. George Henderson (1874-1914), Canadian First Class Passenger from Montreal, Quebec, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 15
Mrs. Jane Henderson (1881-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Mr. Harry Henderson (1882-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
Mr. William Laurence Douglas Henderson (1920-1941), Australian Stoker from Mosman Park, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 17
... (Another 16 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Henderson 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: Sola virtus nobilitat
Motto Translation: Virtue alone ennobles.

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
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)
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
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
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp