Dean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland-Alt
Ireland
Italy
Scotland

Etymology of Dean

What does the name Dean mean?

The name Dean has a history dating as far back as the the 14th century in Scotland where the name is thought to have been of local origin. "There is or was a place named Den in the perish of Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, and Dean in the parish of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was an ancient seat of the Boyds, Earls of Kilmarnock. Permission was granted in 1345 to Robert de Den, canon of Dunkeld, 'for leave to choose his confessor, who shall give him plenary absolution at the hour of death.' Johannes de Den in the parish of Fyvy was excommunicated in 1382." 1

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the English side of the family. In England, the name is very popular and as such was scattered through England by the 15th century. One source presumes the name to actually be Norman as in the Latin form, Decanus, William and Godfrey Decanus were listed there 1180-1189. 2 One might consider the northern England, particularly Yorkshire where there were at least three entries for the family in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 3

Early Origins of the Dean family

The surname Dean was first found in Aberdeenshire and/or Ayrshire.

Today there are two places of significance named Dean in Scotland: Dean, formerly a quoad sacra parish, partly in the parish of Corstorphine, but chiefly in that of St. Cuthbert, city and county of Edinburgh; and Dean the village, in the parish of Wilton, district of Hawick, county of Roxburgh. The latter has traditionally been very small with a population in the late 1800's of only 129 people. 4

Deanston in Perth is significantly larger and had a population of over 1,000 people at the same time. "This place appears to have originated in the establishment of some cotton-works on the south bank of the Teith, for which that copious and powerful stream afforded ample advantages, and in the consequent erection of a spacious village for the residence of the men employed in the concern." 4

Returning to the aforementioned Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire references, one of the family entered "in a bond of manrent dated 1703 by William Dean alias Davidson, 'miller at the King's Milne (and many other individuals), who and their ancestors, all named Deans, otherwise called Davidsons,' acknowledged themselves to be followers, dependents, and kinsmen under and to the lairds of Mackintosh."in a bond of manrent dated 1703 by William Dean alias Davidson, 'miller at the King's Milne (and many other individuals), who and their ancestors, all named Deans, otherwise called Davidsons,' acknowledged themselves to be followers, dependents, and kinsmen under and to the lairds of Mackintosh." 1

Early History of the Dean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dean research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1499, 1503, 1509, 1542, 1547, 1557, 1590, 1610, 1653, 1708 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Dean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dean Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dean, Deane, Dene, Deans, Deanes, Denes, Adeane and others.

Early Notables of the Dean family

Distinguished members of the family include

Henry Deane, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord High Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547)
Richard Deane (1610-1653), a British naval general and major general for Cromwell

Dean World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dean is the 236^th most popular surname with an estimated 111,915 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Dean is ranked the 567^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,715 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dean is the 486^th popular surname with an estimated 97 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Dean as 196^th with 16,557 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Dean as 287^th with 2,105 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Dean as 189^th with 29,671 people. 10

Migration of the Dean family to Ireland

Some of the Dean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dean migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dean Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Stephen Dean, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1621 11
Walter Dean, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 11
William Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1637 11
Nich Dean, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 11
Nicholas Dean, who settled in Virginia in 1654
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliz Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1703 11
Jeams Dean, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 11
Jeany Dean, who landed in Virginia in 1705 11
Daniel Dean, who landed in New England in 1725 11
Barzillai Dean, who landed in New England in 1745 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Dean, who landed in New York in 1801 11
Thomas Dean, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 11
Hugh Dean, who arrived in New York in 1810 11
Stewart Dean, who landed in Maryland in 1812 11
Ramo Dean, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ephrane W Dean, who arrived in Arkansas in 1900 11
Mr. Edwin Dean, (b. 1869), aged 31, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th February 1900 en route to Ironwood, Michigan, USA 12

Dean migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Dean, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
William Dean, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
Mr. Aaron Dean U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 13
Mr. Jacob Dean U.E. (b. 1738) born in New York who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1818 13
Mr. Josiah Dean U.E. who settled in Sophiasburgh & Ameliasburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1786 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Dean, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 14
Miss. Mary Dean who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 14
Mr. Peter Dean, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in May 1847 14
Mr. Patrick Dean who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing 15th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 15
Clara Dean, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean migration to Australia +

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

Dean Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dean, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Miss. Mary Dean, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for 7 years for stealing fabric, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Benjamin Dean, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. Samuel Dean, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
Mr. James Dean, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean 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:

Dean Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Dean, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Jabez Dean, aged 21, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Ann Dean, aged 19, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Mr. Jabez Dean, (b. 1818), aged 21, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 21
Mrs. Dean, (b. 1820), aged 19, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dean 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

Dean Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Abel Dean, who settled in Barbados in 1678
Henry Dean, who landed in Barbados in 1695 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Dean (post 1700) +

Clark Dean (b. 2000), American rower, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Randolph "Randy" Hume Dean (b. 1955), former American NFL football quarterback who played for three seasons for the New York Giants from 1977 to 1979
Robert Klein Dean (1955-2023), American handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics, identical twin brother of Randy Dean
Lynn Blackwell Dean (1923-2022), American politician from Louisiana, President of St. Bernard Parish (1992–1996), Member of the Louisiana State Senate (1996-2004)
Patrick Dean (1976-2021), American cartoonist and illustrator from Rome, Georgia
Frederick Rudolph "Fred" Dean (1952-2020), American professional NFL football defensive end, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Joe Dean (1930-2013), American basketball player, inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012
Nathan Dean (1934-2013), American politician, Senator Georgia Assembly (1975-2004)
Major-General William Frishe Dean (1899-1981), American Deputy Commanding General 6th Army (1955), last military governor of South Korea in 1947-1948 23
Major-General Herbert Reynolds Dean (1882-1970), American Director of Selective Service Rhode Island (1940-1945) 24
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dean family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss Kay Dean (1957-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Reporoa, Waikato, North Island, 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 25

Halifax Explosion

Miss Harriet Dean, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 26

HMS Hood

Mr. George A Dean (b. 1922), English Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Eltham, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 27
Mr. Cyril A J Dean (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Iffley, Oxfordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 27

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. James Dean, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 28

Pemberton Mill

Mr. Buell W. Dean, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, he managed to jump out of the way of a falling floor he survived

RMS Titanic

Mr. George H. Dean (d. 1912), aged 19, English Assistant Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 29
Mr. Bertram Frank Dean (d. 1912), aged 25, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 29
Mrs. Eva Georgetta Dean, (née Light), aged 32, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 10 29
Master Bertram Vere Dean, aged 1, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 10 29
Miss Elizabeth Gladys "Millvina" Dean, aged 2 mths, English Third Class passenger from Bartley Farm, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 10 29

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Albert Edgar Dean (b. 1880), Welsh coal miner from Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 30

USS Arizona

Mr. William E. Dean, American Boatswain's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 31
Mr. Lyle Bernard Dean, American Coxswain working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 31

USS Indianapolis

John Thomas Dean Jr., American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 32

The Dean 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: Vel arte, vel marte
Motto Translation: Either by art or strength

Citations +

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)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
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
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 23)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 72)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) William Dean. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Dean/William_Frishe/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Herbert Dean. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Dean/Herbert_Reynolds/USA.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew