Sandison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Sandison

What does the name Sandison mean?

The surname Sandison is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Sandison is was a patronymic name created from Sandy, a diminutive of the given name Alexander. 1 Other sources denote the name is from 'Alexander's son.' 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Sandison family

The surname Sandison was first found in county Durham. They were descended from Alexander, a Norman noble who had been granted lands in Waslington in the county of Durham and whose son took the surname James Saunderson. Whorlton in Durham was home to one branch of the family. "This place formed part of the forfeited estates of the Earl of Westmorland, and was purchased from the commissioners of the crown lands; the manor subsequently became the property of the Sanderson family." 5

Also the parish of Saxby in Lincolnshire was home to the family since early times. "This place has long been in the possession of the Saundersons, now represented by the Earl of Scarborough." 5 Early London records list Adam Saunderson in 1349. 6 In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Ricardus Sawndirson; and Johannes Saundirson. 7

Ireland was an early home to many of the family. "The Saundersons of co. Cavan are descended from Alexander de Bedick of Waslington, co. Durham, whose son, James de Bedick, used the alias of Saunderson, from his father's Christian name. His descendants settled in the shires of Nottingham and Lincoln, and it is from the latter county that the Saundersons just mentioned derive themselves. The family of this name in co. Wicklow, claim that their ancestor came into England about the year 1270, and that he sprang 'from Robert, Lord of Innspruck, who was second brother of Rodolph, Count of Hapsburgh, and subsequently Emperor.' The founder of the family in Ireland was a follower of Cromwell." 4

In Scotland, entries were first found in the 15th century. "Johannes Sandrison was witness in Kyncardyn, 1434. John Sanderson bought the Temple lands of Lethindy in 1472. William Sanderissone and Vmfra Sanderissone were summoned in 1479 to answer to parliament for treason." 2

Early History of the Sandison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sandison research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1561, 1572, 1573, 1574, 1587, 1602, 1603, 1611, 1627, 1630, 1637, 1663, 1667, 1682, 1696, 1712, 1720, 1723, 1739, 1761, 1837, 1906, 1977 and 1997 are included under the topic Early Sandison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sandison Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Saunderson, Sanderson, Sandeson, Sandison and others.

Early Notables of the Sandison family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Sanderson (d. 1602), English Catholic divine, a native of Lancashire, matriculated as a sizar of Trinity College, Cambridge; Robert Sanderson (1587-1663), English clergyman and casuist, born in Sheffield, Yorkshire; Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1739), English scientist and mathematician, he may have been the earliest discoverer of Bayes theorem; Mary Saunderson (1637-1712), later known as Mary Saunderson Betterton after her marriage to Thomas Betterton, an...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sandison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sandison family to Ireland

Some of the Sandison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 118 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sandison migration to Australia +

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

Sandison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Sandison, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "China" 8

Sandison 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:

Sandison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alex Sandison, (b. 1833), aged 28, Scottish farm labourer, from Aberdeenshire travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 9

The Sandison 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: Je suis veillant à plaire
Motto Translation: I am watchful to please.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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)
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.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-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)
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/china1852.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html