Contents [hide]

Case History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Case History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Italy
Spain

Etymology of Case

What does the name Case mean?

The name Case is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who makes boxes, chests or receptacles. The surname Case is derived from the Old Norman French word casse, which means case. Thus, Case is a metonymic type of occupational surname; it is derived from the principal object associated with the occupation. 1

The following interesting quote was found by our researchers: "A family in Devonshire thus designated account for it by a tradition that, about two hundred years since, a foundling was laid at the door of a certain gentleman, to whom popular scandal attributed its paternity; the gentleman denied the allegation, but from motives of humanity had the infant taken care of, and, from the circumstance of its having been enclosed in a packing-case, imposed upon the poor foundling this curious appellation. The French case, from Latin casa, a mean house, cottage, or hut, is, however, a more likely etymon." 2

Early Origins of the Case family

The surname Case was first found in Norfolk at Testerton where "for more than two centuries [the parish has been] the property of the Case family, whose mansion of Testerton House, a handsome modern residence, is beautifully situated on the estate." 3

"There was a family of Case in Swaffham [Norfolk] 200 years ago, and the name is still in the town; the rector of Erpingham in 1628 bore this name." 4

One sources notes that the name could have been "derived from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of Cassandra.' And following this premise, the following entries were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Albric filius, Cassandre, Cambridgeshire; Ralph filius Cassandre, Cambridgeshire; and Cassandre (without surname), Huntingdonshire. (Bardsely)

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed both first and last names: Johannes Case; Willelmus Casson; and Cassander Danyll. 5

Early History of the Case family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Case research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1564, 1568, 1572, 1586, 1588, 1598, 1600, 1660, 1680, 1682 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Case History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Case Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Case include Case, Casse and others.

Early Notables of the Case family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Thomas Case (1598-1682), an English Presbyterian clergyman, Member of the Westminster Assembly, one of the strongest advocates of theocracy, and sympathizer with the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy...
John Case (d. 1600), was a writer on Aristotle, born at Woodstock, and was a chorister at New College and Christ Church, Oxford. He became a Scholar of St. John's College in 1564, and that he took the...
John Case (fl. 1680-1700), was an astrologer, born about 1660 at Lyme Regis in Dorsetshire. 6

Case Ranking

In the United States, the name Case is the 813^rd most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 7 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Case is ranked the 767^th most popular surname with an estimated 55 people with that name. 8

Case migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Case were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Case Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Case who settled in Virginia in 1649 with his brother Robert
Richard Case, who landed in Virginia in 1649 9
Elizabeth Case, who landed in Virginia in 1652 9
Robs Case, who landed in Virginia in 1654 9
John Case, who landed in Virginia in 1658 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Case Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francois Nicolas Case, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 9
Peter Case, who arrived in New Jersey in 1755 9
Tunis Case, who landed in New Jersey in 1755 9
Peter Case, who arrived in New Jersey in 1775

Case Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dennis Case, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1812 9
Anto Case, aged 36, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1822 9
John Case, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1846 9
L Case, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 9
R Case, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Case migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Case Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Nathan Case, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
Nathan, Case Jr., who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mrs. Elisha Case U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
Mr. John Case U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
Mr. Josiah Case U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Case Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Case, who landed in Canada in 1841

Case migration to Australia +

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

Case Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Ann Case, English convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bellona" in July 1792, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11

Case Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry Case, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 12
Mr. Henry Case, (b. 1808), aged 22, English ploughman who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. James Case, (b. 1777), aged 54, English gardener who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1867 14
Mr. Joseph Case, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Emmanuel Case, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1838 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Case 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:

Case Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss S. Case, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastfield" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th December 1857 17
Mr. Samuel G. Case, (b. 1858), aged 20, Cornish farm labourer departing on 1st November 1878 aboard the ship "Waikato" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 18th January 1878 18
Mr. Samuel G. Case, (b. 1858), aged 20, Cornish farm labourer departing on 1st November 1878 aboard the ship "Waikato" going to Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand arriving in port on 18th January 1879 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Case (post 1700) +

Karl Edwin "Chip" Case (1946-2016), American Professor of Economics Emeritus at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts who co-developed Case-Shiller index model
Ermine Cowles "E.C." Case (1871-1953), American paleontologist
George Washington Case (1915-1989), American Major League Baseball left and right fielder who played from 1937 to 1947
Brigadier-General Rolland Webster Case (1882-1957), American Commanding Officer San Antonio Ordnance Center, Texas (1942-1944) 20
Brigadier-General Homer Case (1894-1996), American Assistant Chief Ground Development Division Army Ground Forces (1945-1946) 21
Stoney Jarrod Case (b. 1972), American NFL football player
Steve Case (b. 1958), American entrepreneur, co-founder of America Online (AOL)
Paul Foster Case (1884-1954), American occultist
Jerome Case (1819-1891), American manufacturer of threshing machines, founder of J.I. Case Corporation
Clifford P. Case (1904-1982), American politician, United States Senator from New Jersey (1955-1979), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey (1945-1953)
... (Another 116 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Case family +

RMS Titanic

Mr. Howard Brown Case (d. 1912), aged 49, English First Class passenger from Ascot, Berkshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 22

The Case 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: Distantia jungit
Motto Translation: It joins things that were apart.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bellona
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Canton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Rolland Case. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Case/Rolland_Webster/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Homer Case. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Case/Homer/USA.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html