Surname Histories (A to F)

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Surname Family Histories (A to F) Return to: Surname Family Histories Main Page
CLICK ON ANY SURNAME Bachman Beers Bender Boone Born Bossom Boucher Brady Buckman Busby Cain Carmack Chandler Corson Cox Crowther Donnelly Doyle Dunham Dunn Foss Frick

BACHMAN
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A gold shield with a red and silver chequered bend
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bechmann, Bechman, Becman, Beckmann, Beckman, Bachmann and many more.
First found in Westphalia, which was established as the primary origin of the family.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Francis Bechman, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1855. Joseph Bechmann arrived in Philadelphia in 1832, while both Frank Bechman and Frederick Bechman came to Philadelphia in 1853.
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BEERS
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A black bear on a silver shield with a red canton.
Crest: A black bird standing on a garb.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Beare, Bear, Beer, Bere, Beares, Bears, Beers, Beres and many more.
First found in Devonshire where they had been seated from very ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Christopher and Mary Bere, who settled on the eastern seaboard at a very early time with their two daughters Mary and Elizabeth. They settled in Georgia in the 17th century. Walter and Ann Beare settled in Virginia in 1620; Humphrey Beare settled in Jamaica in 1661; Richard Beare settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Joane Beare settled in the Barbados in 1660; Henry Beare settled in Philadelphia Pa. in 1818. The Beers settled in Pennsylvania and others.
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BENDER
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A blue shield with a silver bend displaying three gold beehives.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bender, Bennder, Bendder, Bander, Bannder, Bandder and many more.
First found in Baden, which became the fertile source of the many succeeding branches of the family name.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Bastian Bender arrived in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1764; George Bender came to Maryland in 1765; Johann Georg Bender, age 46, came to New York State in 1876; Louis Bender, age 36, settled and others.
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BOONE
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: Blue with a silver stripe and a gold border between six gold lion ramparts and three red escallops.
Crest: A lion.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bohon, Bohun, Bone, Boon, Boone, Bohan, Bound, Boun and many more.
First found in Sussex. Humphry de Bohun accompanied William the Conqueror to England and established the family in England.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Ann Bone, who settled in Virginia in 1663; William Bone settled in Virginia in 1643; John Bone settled in Maryland in 1747; James Boone settled in Philadelphia and others.
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BOONE
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: Red shield with a green plant.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Boone, Boon, Boonen, Boons, Boonzajer, Booner, Boonern and many more.
First found in Germany, where they emerged as a notable family name early in the Middle Ages.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: settlers who travelled to the New World and established themselves along the eastern seaboard of the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, and in Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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BORN
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A silver shield with a black castle on a green mound, in chief, the sun between two gold estoiles.
Crest: A pegasus.
Motto: Haec omnia transeunt
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bourne, Borne, Bourn, and others.
First found in Lancashire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Backinsall, Wyersdale, and Stalmine before, in that shire.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Mary Bourn who arrived in Philadelphia in 1774; John Bourn settled in the Barbados with his wife and sons in 1680; Benjamin Bourne settled in Virginia in 1650; James Bourne settled in Virginia in 1654; Garret Bourne settled in and others.
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BORN
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A shield divided per pale, black and gold shield with a red wavy fesse.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Born, Borne, Borner, Bornne, Boerner, Bornemann, Bormann and many more.
First found in Saxony, holding many interests as the size of the family grew in proportion to the population explosion of the 16th century.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Adam Born, who arrived in Maryland in 1760, Johann Daniel Born who arrived in Philadelphia in 1803, Ludwig Born and his wife Anna Maria who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 and Vallentin Born who settled in Philadelphia in 1750. They were among the many bearers of this name to come to the North American continent.
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BORN
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A red shield displaying a gold bend with a bear.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bern, Berne, Bernn, Bernne, Berns, Bernes, Bernert and many more.
First found in Switzerland and Silesia, where they continued to be an important contributor to the life of Europe.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Georg Anastasius Bern, who came to Philadelphia in 1740. William Bern arrived in America in 1743, Daniel Berner arrived in Philadelphia in 1855, Fidel Berner settled in New Castle County, Delaware, in 1852, and Marg Berner, age 37, came to New York City in 1832. Robert Berner settled in Texas in 1852.
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BOSSOM
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A blue shield displaying three silver bird bolts.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bosome, Bosom, Bossum, Bosham, Bosum, Bossom, Bossam and many more.
First found in Sussex, where the name is associated with the parish of Bosham, four miles from Chichester.
First landed in Charles Bossom, who arrived in America in 1748.
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BOUCHER
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A silver shield with a blue bend between two blue eagles.
Crest: A lion rampant on a tower.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Bowker, Bowcher, Boucher, and others.
First found in Lincolnshire, where they had been granted manor and lands by their liege lord Duke William, for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Abraham Bowker who settled in Virginia in 1700; John Bowker arrived in Philadelphia in 1848 along with William, Thomas, and James. Another Abraham Bowker arrived in Philadelphia in 1858; T. Bowker arrived in San Francisco in 1850. and others.
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BOUCHER
Origin: French
Coat of Arms: On a gold shield with around a black saltire are four red eagles.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Boucher, Bouche, Bouchez, Bouchais, Bouchay, le Boucher and many more.
First found in Champagne where the family goes back to the 1100's and held extensive lands and estates.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Andrew Boucher settled in Virginia in 1650; Jerreard Boucher settled in Barbados with his servants in 1680; Elizabeth Boucher settled in Rappahannock, Virginia, in 1728; Hans Ulrich Boucher settled in Philadelphia and others.
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BRADY
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: A black shield with a red hand pointing at a gold sun.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Grady, Brady, O'Grady, O'Brady, Braidy, Graidy, Bradie and many more.
First found in counties of Limerick, Clare, Cavan and Galway. The family anciently called Bradigan and O'Bradigan are believed to have anglicized their name after the advent of the Strongbow invasion.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Bernard Brady who settled in Philadelphia Pa. in 1868, as did Charles, David, Denis, Edward, Francis, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Mark, Michael, Owen, Patrick, Peter, Philip, Richard, Robert, Samuel, Thomas, and William, and many more, all between 1840 and 1870; Michael, John and Thomas Bradigan and O'Bradigan settled in Virginia in 1657; Andrew Bradaghan settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in the early eighteen hundreds. and others.
Additional Information:
The name Brady in Ireland is derived from the native Gaelic Mac Bradaigh Sept, which is taken from an Irish word meaning 'spirited'. This Sept was based in County Cavan. A County Clare branch of the O'Gradaigh (O'Grady) Sept changed their name to Brady in the sixteenth century.
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BUCKMAN
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: On a silver and black shield, three bucks antlers.
Crest: A set of silver antlers.
Motto: Fide et fortitudine (By fidelity and fortitude)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Buck, Bucke, Buch, Buke, and others.
First found in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The name was first found in records associated with the county of Yorkshire in England, but at that southern part of Yorkshire in its extremity, adjacent to Lincolnshire.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Isaac and Richard Buck who arrived in the Barbados in 1635; Old Buck settled in Virginia in 1650; Susan Buck and her husband settled in New England in 1637; Edward Buck settled in Plancentia, and others.
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BUSBY
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: Gold with three black arrows and three gold stars.
Crest: A silver stag's head.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Busby, Busbe, Busbie, and others.
First found in Renfrewshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Carmunnock in that shire.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Bridget Busby who settled in Boston Mass. in 1637; Anne Busby settled in Virginia in 1635; John Busby settled in Delaware in 1682; John Busby settled in Boston in 1637; Thomas Busby and others.
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CAIN
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: Blue shield with a wavy bend.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Cain, Caine, Kane, Kain, Cahan, O'Cahan, Kean, Keane and many more.
First found in in Londonderry where they had been seated from very ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Christopher Cain or Cayne who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1639, and died in 1653, he had two sons, Jonathon and Nathaniel; Charles Cain settled in Virginia in 1654; the family also settled in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and California; also the Cayne and others.
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CARMACK
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: A silver shield with a red fesse dancette between three blue eagles, all within a black border engrailed.
Crest: A hand holding a spear.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Cormack, MacCormack, McCormack, McCormick, MacCormick and many more.
First found in Munster. The Cormacks of Munster were of great antiquity and descended directly from Nathi, brother of Felim who was King of Munster about the year 560 A.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Daniell Cormack who settled in Virginia in 1643; Christopher Cormack settled in Annapolis Md. in 1731; Patrick Cormack settled in New York State in 1804; Thomas Cormack settled in Boston Mass. in 1850; and others.
Additional Information:
The names McCormack and McCormick in Ireland are derived from the native Gaelic MacCormaic Sept which in turn is derived from the the forename Cormac. These names are found mostly in Counties Fermanagh and Longford where the majority of descendants can still today be found.
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CHANDLER
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A shield chequey red and silver with three gold lions on a black bend.
Crest: Out of clouds a cherub's head.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Chandler, Chandlers, Channdler, Channdlers, Candler and many more.
First found in Lancashire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated in Candler with manor and estates in that shire.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: John Chandler who settled in Virginia in 1623; followed by Arthur, Virginia 1623; Edmund Virginia 1630; Daniel Virginia in 1632; John, Maryland 1774; Mary, Virg and others.
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CORSON
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: Blue with a gold fesse between three silver lozenges at the top and a silver crescent in base.
Crest: A right hand holding a scimitar.
Motto: Ne M'oubliez
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Carson, Carsen, and others.
First found in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbright where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated in those shires.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: James Carson who arrived in Charles Town S.C. in 1767 with his wife Jane, son John, and daughters Margaret, Mary; Andrew, Archibald, Hugh, James, John, Joseph, Robert, Samuel, William, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1784 and others.
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COX
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A shield divided quarterly red and green with a bezant in each quarter.
Crest: A stag.
Motto: Prodesse quam conspice
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Cox, Coxe, and others.
First found in Herefordshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Broxwood and Eaton Bishop with manors and estates in that shire.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Charles Cox who settled in Virginia in 1653, with Elizabeth, his wife, and children; other members of the family name also settled in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Baltimore and others.
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CROWTHER
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A red shield with a wavy bend vary silver and blue.
Crest: A red tilting spear on which there is a gold tiger passant.
Motto: In God is my trust
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Crowder, Crowther, Crouder, Crowdder, Crodare, Crowdair and many more.
First found in York. By the 13th and 14th centuries many of the lesser branches of the family name seemed to have faded out and the senior lines of the family held estates at Eland near Halifax in Yorkshire.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: John Crowther who settled in New Hampshire in 1631; Elizabeth James and Mary Crowthers settled in Richmond, Virginia in 1820; Thomas Crowder who settled in Barbados in 1634 and later transferred to the mainland; Hugh Crowder who settled in Virginia and others.
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DONNELLY
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: A silver shield with two red lions combatant supporting a red hand; in base, there is a salmon swimming in the sea.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Donnely, Donnelly, Donelly, O'Donnelly, O'Donelly and many more.
First found in Tyrone. The name is believed to be directly descended from King Niall of the Nine Hostages, the great Irish general/king who died by the River Seine in France about 365 A.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Catherine and Hugh Donnelly who settled in New York in 1803; Hugh Donnelly settled in Belfast, Maine in 1820; Bryan, Peter and Thomas Donnelly landed in America in 1763; Anthony Donnelly settled in Boston Mass. in 18 and others.
Additional Information:
The name Donnelly in Ireland is derived from the native Gaelic O'Donnghaile Sept, taken from a Gaelic word meaning 'valour'. The Sept was based in County Donegal originally but migrated to County Tyrone. It is in the Province of Ulster that the majority of descendants can still be found.
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DOYLE
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A gold shield with two blue bends.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Doyley, D'Oyley, Doyle, D'Oyle, Doylee, Doley, Duley and many more.
First found in Oxfordshire where they were anciently seated. This name is quite distinct from the Irish Doyle, which it is claimed is of Norse origin.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Many settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Florida, and to the islands.
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DOYLE
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: A silver shield with three red bucks heads within a border of gold and blue.
Crest: A red buck's head within a gold crown.
Motto: Fortitudine Vincit (He conquers by fortitude)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Doyle, O'Doyle, Doyill, Doill, Doile, Doyel, and others.
First found in in Leinster where they were seated from very ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Edward Doyle who settled in Philadelphia Pa. as early as 1683; Eliza Doyle settled in Boston Mass. in 1716; Elizabeth Doyle settled in Virginia in 1723; John Doyle settled in Maryland in 1786; the Doyles also set and others.
Additional Information:
The name Doyle in Ireland is of Norse origin having been brought to the East of the country during the ninth to eleventh centuries. The name is taken from the Gaelic words 'dubh ghall', that translate as 'dark stranger'. The majority of Doyle descendants can be found in the Province of Leinster and in County Dublin in particular.
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DUNHAM
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: On a blue shield a jagged gold stripe across the top.
Crest: On a blue shield a jagged gold stripe across the top.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Dunham, Dunnam, Downham, Dounham, Downnam, and others.
First found in in Norfolk where they had been seated from very ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: John Dunham of Plymouth who in 1633 purchased land at Dartmouth. Later John Dunham of Barnstable settled in 1655. By 1850 the Dunham name had reached as far west as San Francisco.
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DUNHAM
Origin: Irish
Surname History:
The name Dunham in Ireland is usually of immigrant origin having been brought to the Province of Ulster by settlers who arrived from England, especially during the seventeenth century. It is in the Northern Counties that the majority of descendants bearing this name can still today be found.
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DUNN
Origin: Irish
Coat of Arms: Blue with a gold eagle displayed.
Crest: A lizard in front of a holly tree.
Motto: Mullac abu (Victory for the Dunns)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Dunn, Dunne, Dun, O'Dunne, O'Doyne, Doine, Doin, O'Dunn and many more.
First found in Meath. The family name Dunn is one of the oldest surnames and its history has been claimed as both Irish and Scottish.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Thomas Dunn who settled in Wymouth, Massachusetts in 1647; Miss Dunn settled in the Barbados in 1774; Mrs. Dunn settled in Boston Mass. in 1766; Agnes Dunn settled in Charles Town, S.C. in 1767; Arthur and others.
Additional Information:
The name Dunne in Ireland is derived from the O'Duinn and the O'Doinn Gaelic Septs who were based in County Laoise and County Wicklow. It is in these Counties that the majority of descendants can still be found.
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DUNN
Origin: Scottish
Coat of Arms: A red shield with a sword between two gold buckles in fess, and three gold locks.
Crest: A right hand holding a gold key in bend sinister
Motto: Mecum habito (Dwell with Me)
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Dunn, Dunne, Dun, and others.
First found in Angus, where they were anciently seated. Adam Dun was elected to the deanery of Moray in 1255.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Robert Dunn was a Loyalist who settled in Nova Scotia in 1785. Stephen Dunn was also a Loyalist who settled in Nova Scotia in 1784. Michael Dunn settled had in Stormont County, Ontario by 1871. John Dunn sailed to Maryland in 1668; Dennis Dunn sailed to Philadelphia in 1746; and John Dunn moved to Esquimalt B.C. in 1862. Members of the family also settled in Newfoundland. and others.
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FOSS
Origin: English
Coat of Arms: A shield divided per fess silver and blue with a red fox passant in the top half.
Crest: A red demi-fox.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Foss, Fosse, and others.
First found in Somerset. The Foss, or Fosse surname was first recorded in the southern counties of England, particularly Somerset, where the family lived at Doultin and Shepton Mallet, on each side of Fosse Way in 1284.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Jean Fosse landed in Louisiana in 1719, and Nicholas Foss settled in Philadelphia in 1731; Phillip Foss settled in Maryland in 1763; Sarah Foss settled in New York in 1820; Steph and others.
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FOSS
Origin: Dutch
Coat of Arms: Silver with a red bendy of three.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Vos, Vosch, Voshol, Voss, Vosse, Vossem, Fos, Föse and many more.
First found in Holland where they emerged as a notable family early in the Middle Ages in Amsterdam.
First landed in Many settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century onward in the great migration from Europe to the New World.
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FRICK
Origin: German
Coat of Arms: A silver shield with a running wolf.
Crest: A twig with green leaves and three gold acorns with green tops.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Frick, Fricke, Fricker, Frickel, Frickes, Fricks, and others.
First found in throughout Germany, but Holstein and Hanover in particular, where they emerged as a notable family name early in the Middle Ages.
First landed in Conrad Frick, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 and Johann Fricke, who settled on Long Island in 1781.
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FRICK
Origin: Dutch
Coat of Arms: Silver shield with a black lion a silver star on chest.
Surname History:
Spelling variations include: Fredericks, Frederic, Frederico, Federici, Fredderich and many more.
First found in Holland where they emerged as a notable family early in the Middle Ages.
First landed in Many settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century onward in the great migration from Europe to the New World.
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