Show ContentsValentine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Valentine was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the Latin name Valentinus, which is a derivative of the word valens, which means strong or healthy. This name, which was popularized by a Roman saint who was martyred during the 3rd century, was introduced into England at the end of the 12th century.

Early Origins of the Valentine family

The surname Valentine was first found in Herefordshire where they held a family seat anciently before and after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Valentine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Valentine research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1593, 1627, 1628, 1629, 1652 and 1664 are included under the topic Early Valentine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Valentine Spelling Variations

Valentine has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Valentine have been found, including Valentine, Vallentine, Vallantine, Follington and others.

Early Notables of the Valentine family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Benjamin Valentine (d. 1652?), English parliamentarian, probably a native of Cheshire...
  • Valentine, with Denzil Holles, held the speaker down in his seat while Sir John Eliot read out resolutions questioning the king's proceedings respecting religion and taxation...
  • Judgment [against Valentine] was pronounced on 12 Feb...
  • , when Valentine was fined 500...

Valentine Ranking

In the United States, the name Valentine is the 751st most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Valentine family to Ireland

Some of the Valentine 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.


Valentine migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Valentines to arrive on North American shores:

Valentine Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Eliza Valentine, who settled in Virginia in 1698
Valentine Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Adam Valentine, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 2
  • Mary Valentine, who settled in New England in 1750 with her husband Jacob
  • Jacob Valentine, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Henry Valentine, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
  • Margaret Valentine, who settled in west New Jersey in 1771 with her husband Thomas
Valentine Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Valentine, aged 40, who arrived in Connecticut in 1812 2
  • Peter Valentine, aged 25, who landed in New Jersey in 1812 2
  • George, Valentine Jr., who arrived in New York in 1838 2
  • Neitz Valentine, aged 37, who arrived in St Louis, Missouri in 1844 2
  • Mr. Reh. Valentine, aged 24, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Neptune"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Valentine migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Valentine Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mrs. Abigail Valentine U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as a child more than 10 years of age 3
  • Mr. George Valentine U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as a child less than 10 years of age 3
  • Mr. Philip Valentine U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as a child more than 10 years of age 3
  • Mr. Benjamin Valentine U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1784 3

Valentine migration to Australia +

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

Valentine Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Valentine, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Mr. Loury Valentine, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
  • Mr. Joseph Valentine, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Mr. Valentine Valentine, (b. 1799), aged 42, British labourer who was convicted in Port Louis for 7 years for arson, transported aboard the "Daphne" in 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
  • Edwin Valentine, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Poictiers" in 1848 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Valentine 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:

Valentine Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Catherine S. Valentine, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1858
  • Robert Valentine, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1858
  • Mr. Thomas Valentine, (b. 1839), aged 35, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 9
  • Mr. Valentine, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Earl of Zetland" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 3rd June 1875 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Valentine (post 1700) +

  • James William Valentine (1926-2023), American evolutionary biologist, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley
  • Ira Lynn Valentine (1963-2022), American NFL football running back who played one season for the Houston Oilers (1987-1988) and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1989
  • DeWain Valentine (1936-2022), American minimalist sculptor who was born in Fort Collins, Colorado
  • Philip Carr "Ohil" Valentine (1959-2021), American conservative talk radio host, author and actor, he died from COVID-19
  • Kate Valentine (1962-2018), better known as Kate Spade, born Katherine Noel Brosnahan, American fashion designer and businesswoman, founder and former co-owner of Kate Spade New York
  • Itimous Thaddeus "Tim" Valentine Jr., (1926-2015), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina (1983-1995)
  • William Terry "Bill" Valentine Jr. (1932-2015), American professional baseball umpire
  • Howard Valentine (1880-1932), American gold and sliver Olympic medalist for running at the 1904 Summer Games
  • Henry Brian Valentine (b. 1959), American Senior Vice President, Ecommerce Platform at Amazon.com
  • Robert John "Bobby" Valentine (b. 1950), American Major League Baseball player and manager
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

SS Atlantic
  • Wm. Valentine, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking


Suggested Readings for the name Valentine +

  • History of the Bill(s) Family and Allied Lines by Everett James Hubbard.

  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. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  6. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved May 31st 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/daphne
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) POICTIERS 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Poictiers.htm
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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