Show ContentsCason History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Cason

What does the name Cason mean?

Among the the peoples of ancient Scotland, the first to use the name Cason were the Strathclyde-Britons. Cason was a name for someone who lived in Dumfriesshire, where the first mention of the family was of Morris Acarson, Bailiff of the Isle of Man, appointed by King Alexander I of Scotland about 1100 A.D. This is the same person as Mauritius Okarefair. 1

The family "was provosts of Dumfries for several generations and were also prominent in local affairs of Kirkcudbrightshire. No value need be attached to the tradition of descent from an Italian named Corsini reputed to have been brought to Scotland by Dervorgilla to superintend the building of Sweetheart Abbey. Everything points to native origin. " 1

Early Origins of the Cason family

The surname Cason was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they are believed to be descended from the Irish Clan MacCarrghama of the Hy Fiachra and arrived on the south west Scottish coast about the 9th century.

Sir Robert de Acarson (or de Carsan), a cleric witnessed a charter of Holm Cultram in 1276 and it may be the same Robert de Carsan who rendered homage to Edward I in 1296. 1

"Laughlan, son of Laughlan de Carsan and Dovenald, son of Thomas de Carsan were among some Galloway hostages lodged in Carlisle. In 1305 John Acarson and others took the castle of Dumfries from its garrison. Morice Acrassane and Gilbert were jurors on an inquisition at Drumfrese, 1367." 1

Early History of the Cason family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cason research. Another 270 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1296, 1305, 1373, 1374, 1377, 1394, 1445, 1453, 1503, 1531, 1665, 1772, 1776, 1780, 1799, 1808, 1843, 1844, 1850 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cason History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cason Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Cason has been spelled Carson, Carsen and others.

Early Notables of the Cason family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Aglionby Ross Carson (1780-1850), Scottish classical scholar and rector of the high school of Edinburgh, was born at Holywood, Dumfriesshire. Alexander Carson (1776-1844), was an Irish Baptist minister, born near Stewartstown, co. Tyrone, in 1776. His parents were Scottish Calvinistic Presbyterians, settled in Ireland, who consecrated their son to the ministry at an early age.James Carson (1772-1843), was a Scottish physician who was originally educated for the ministry, but his inclination leading him to the study of physic, he attended medical classes at Edinburgh, and graduated doctor of medicine there in the autumn...
Another 160 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cason Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cason Ranking

In the United States, the name Cason is the 2,479th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Cason family to Ireland

Some of the Cason family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 129 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Cason migration to the United States +

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them:

Cason Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Cason, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 3
  • William Cason, who landed in Maryland in 1665 3
  • John Cason, who landed in Virginia in 1666 3
Cason Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Cason, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 3

Cason migration to Australia +

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

Cason Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Cason, (b. 1792), aged 28, English miner who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1875 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Cason (post 1700) +

  • Christopher S. Cason, American voice actor
  • John Lacy Cason (1918-1961), also credited as Bob Cason and John L. Cason, American actor
  • Rod Cason (1950-2023), former American football offensive tackle
  • James Allnut "Jim" Cason Jr. (1927-2013), former professional American football defensive back
  • James E. "Buzz" Cason (1939-2024), American rock singer, songwriter and producer
  • William J. Cason (1924-2017), American politician, Member of the Missouri Senate (1960-1976)
  • Wendell Cason (b. 1963), former American football cornerback and safety
  • Yvette Cason, American television, theatre, and film actress
  • Thomas Jefferson Cason (1828-1901), U.S. Representative from Indiana
  • Barbara Cason (1928-1990), American character actress
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Cason 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: Ne m'oubliez
Motto Translation: Don't forget me.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent


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