Show ContentsAnderson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Anderson Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Anderson

What does the name Anderson mean?

Schleswig-Holstein, which is the northernmost state in western Germany, is the homeland of the proud surname Anderson. The name is derived from the personal name "Andreas" or "Andres," meaning "man" or "manly." German surnames developed at a time when Schleswig, as well as most of the other German provinces, were states of the Holy Roman Empire. At first people used only a single name, but as the population grew and people began to travel, they began to find it necessary to take on an additional name to differentiate themselves. Fairly general principles guided the development of hereditary surnames in Schleswig.

Early Origins of the Anderson family

The surname Anderson was first found in Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the political conflicts of the area. The family branched into many houses, some of which acquired estates and manors throughout the surrounding regions, where they played significant roles in the social and political affairs. From early on, the name was represented by predominantly Danish families, although most of the Schleswig branches and many of the southern Danish branches spoke German.

Early History of the Anderson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Anderson research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1596 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Anderson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anderson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Anderson, Andersen, Aenderson, Aendersen, Andersson, Anderssohn, Andersohn, Enderson, Endersen, Andreesen, Andriesen, Aendreesen, Endreesen, Endriesen, Andriesens, Andreessen, Andriessen, Andresen, Andressen, Anderten, Andreasen and many more.

Early Notables of the Anderson family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Anderson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anderson World Ranking

the United States, the name Anderson is the 11st most popular surname with an estimated 773,457 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Anderson is ranked the 13rd most popular surname with an estimated 70,365 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Anderson is the 745th popular surname. 3 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Anderson as 123rd with 294 people. 4 France ranks Anderson as 4,892nd with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 5 Australia ranks Anderson as 7th with 71,588 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Anderson as 8th with 6,986 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Anderson as 43rd with 88,023 people. 8 South Africa ranks Anderson as 524th with 13,549 people. 9

Anderson migration to the United States +



Anderson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jochem Anderson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1600 11
  • Heinrich Anderson, who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1627
  • Thomas Anderson, aged 28, who arriving first in St. Domingo then to Virginia in 1634 or 1635 aboard the ship "Bonaventure"
  • John Anderson, aged 20, who arriving first in St. Domingo then to Virginia in 1634 or 1635 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" 11
  • Joseph Anderson arrived in America in 1635
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Anderson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hannah Anderson, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 11
  • Enoch Anderson, who landed in New Jersey in 1709 11
  • Jacob Anderson, who emigrated from England to New England in 1710
  • Derrick Anderson, who landed in Virginia in 1714 11
  • Edward Anderson, who landed in Virginia in 1717 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Anderson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Archd Anderson, aged 19, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 11
  • George Anderson, who landed in America in 1804 11
  • James Anderson, who arrived in America in 1804 11
  • Heny Anderson, aged 46, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 11
  • Charles Anderson, who landed in America in 1805 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Anderson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Chris Anderson, who landed in Alaska in 1900 11
  • Herman Anderson, who landed in Mississippi in 1900 11
  • Eliza J Anderson, who landed in Colorado in 1902 11
  • Chris C Anderson, who arrived in Mississippi in 1903 11
  • Frank Anderson, who arrived in Arkansas in 1903 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Anderson migration to Canada +

Anderson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Edward Anderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • James Anderson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John and William Anderson, who immigrated to Newfoundland in 1763 12
  • Elizabeth Anderson, aged 36, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
  • Mr. Alex Anderson U.E., United Empire Loyalist who settled in Home District, South Central Ontario c. 1783 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Anderson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Anderson and his wife Isobel, who emigrated from Scotland to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1808 with their children James, Ann, Christina, and Isobel
  • William Anderson, aged 28, who landed in Canada in 1811
  • William Anderson, aged 28, who arrived in Canada in 1811
  • William Anderson, aged 37, a gardener, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • Ann Anderson, aged 36, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Anderson migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet
  • Miss Elizabeth Anderson, (Bruce), (1763 - 1831), aged 24, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
  • Mr. John Anderson, (1746 - 1801), aged 43, British settler convicted in Buckinghamshire, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Miss Mary Anderson, (1769 - 1831), aged 20, British settler convicted in Guildford, Surrey in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
Second Fleet
  • Mr. James Anderson, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Edward Anderson, (d. 1792), British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Third Fleet
  • Mr. John Anderson, (b. 1760), aged 27, English seaman convicted in Exeter, Devon on 26th May 1784, sentenced for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 11
  • Miss Elizabeth Anderson, (b. 1754), aged 33, English settler convicted in London on 10th January 1787, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. John Anderson, (b. 1763), aged 24, English settler convicted in London on 20th March 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Miss Frances "Fanny" Anderson, (b. 1758), aged 29, Irish settler convicted in Winchester, Hampshire on 7th March 1786, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. John Anderson, 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 First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Anderson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Anderson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Martha Anderson, (b. 1768), aged 32, English house maid who was convicted in Northumberland, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Robert Anderson, (Scott), British Convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Thomas Anderson, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Miss Isabella Anderson, (b. 1784), aged 28, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1850 19
  • Mr. William Anderson, British Convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Anderson 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:

Anderson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Anderson, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1831 21
  • Mr. Jacob Anderson, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1832 21
  • J Anderson, who landed in Hokianga, New Zealand in 1839
  • Patrick Anderson, who landed in Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Samuel Anderson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Anderson 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. 22
Anderson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • James Anderson, aged 19, who arrived in Barbados in 1634 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 11
  • Mr. Robert Anderson, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 23
  • Mr. John Anderson, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 24
  • Mr. William Anderson, (b. 1599), aged 36, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 24

Contemporary Notables of the name Anderson (post 1700) +

  • Marian Anderson (1897-1993), American concert and opera singer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • John Anderson GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, PC, PC (Ire), FRS (1882-1958), 1st Viscount Waverley, British civil servant and politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1943-1945), Lord President of the Council (1940-1943), eponym of the Anderson Shelter used extensively in World War II
  • Philip Warren Anderson (1923-2020), American scientist who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1977 for his work on the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems
  • Stephen Robert Anderson (1943-2025), American linguist, Dorothy R. Diebold Professor of Linguistics Emeritus at Yale University and was the 2007 president of the Linguistic Society of America
  • Loni Kaye Anderson (1945-2025), American actress, best known for playing receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982), earned nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards
  • Loni Kaye Anderson (1945-2025), American actress best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati
  • Bruce Douglas Anderson (1950-2025), American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate, member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, represented District 29, which includes portions of Hennepin and Wright Counties in central Minnesota (2013-2025)
  • Malachi Colby Anderson (1931-2025), American politician, Member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995
  • Rose Marie Anderson (b. 1921), American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • ... (Another 130 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mrs. Audrey Anderson (d. 1979), British passenger, from United Kingdom aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 25
  • Mrs. Margaret Isobel Anderson (1915-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 26
  • Henry Anderson, British crew who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Frederick William Charles Anderson (1904-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Mr. James William Anderson (d. 1914), British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 26
  • ... (Another 94 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Anderson +

  • The Andersons of Rowlett's Creek by W. Clytes Anderson Cullar and Jerry M. Flook.
  • Descendants of Capt. Henry Anderson, Sr., of Newberry County, South Carolina by Lucien L. McNees.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  4. 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)
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  10. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  11. 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)
  12. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  13. 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
  14. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  18. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  23. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  24. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  25. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  26. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html

Houseofnames.com on Facebook