Contents [hide]

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

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Sands History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Sands

What does the name Sands mean?

Sands is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived throughout ancient Britain as the name literally means "dweller on sandy soil or by the sands." 1 2

"The vocable sand is found in composition of many localities, but the surnames Sand, Sands may mean a messenger, one sent; from German tenden, Goth, sandjan, Anglo-Saxon sendan." 3

Early Origins of the Sands family

The surname Sands was first found in Surrey where William de Sandes was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205. A few years later, Walter de la Sonde was found in the Feet of Fines for Surrey in 1248, and later again, Andrew atte Sonde was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Other early entries include: Reginald del Sond in Suffolk in 1298, Thomas Attensandes in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301 and Gilbert del Sandes in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. 1

One of the earliest records of the family was John Sandale (or Sandall), from Wheatley within Long Sandale, Yorkshire. He was Lord High Treasurer (1310-1311) and (1314-1318). Later he was Bishop of Winchester (1316-1319.) 4

Many families were caught up the religious turmoil of the time and this family was no exception in Gloucestershire. "The first that was called to shed his blood was the Rev. John Sands, or Sandys. Ordained priest at Rheims, he came on the English mission in 1584. Labouring diligently in the work of the ministry, he was apprehended, and was soon condemned to the death of a traitor, for his priestly character. Paul Tracye, of Stanwey, then Sheriff of the county, assisted at his barbarous execution in Gloucester on 2nd August, 1586." 5

Walter atte Sond was bailiff of Yarmouth, Norfolk in 1335 and about the same time, "Earl Sondes owned a large estate in Norfolk." 6

In northern England we found Johannes del Sandes listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 and the Estates and Families of Cumberland, Cumberland included an entry for Thomas del Sandes, 16 Richard II (during the sixteenth year of King Richard II's reign.) 7

Further to the north in Scotland, the family came "from the lands of Sands in the parish of Tulliallan in Fife, which in 1494 were in possession of Thomas Sands and his mother, Isobel Hudson. John Sands was chaplain at Polkelly in 1487, Thomas Sandis of that Ilk was tenant in the quarter lands of Lurg near Culross, 1587." 8

Early History of the Sands family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sands research. Another 225 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1468, 1471, 1510, 1523, 1549, 1571, 1576, 1587, 1589, 1600, 1603, 1618, 1620, 1624, 1633, 1638, 1645, 1677 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sands History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sands Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Sands family name include Sand, Sands, Sandes, Sandis, Sandall, Saundes, Sonds and many more.

Early Notables of the Sands family

Distinguished members of the family include George Sondes, Earl of Feversham (1600-1677), born in 1600 at Lees Court, in the parish of Sheldwich, near Feversham in Kent, son and heir of Sir Richard...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sands Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sands Ranking

In the United States, the name Sands is the 1,913^rd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 9 However, in New Zealand, the name Sands is ranked the 934^th most popular surname with an estimated 798 people with that name. 10

Migration of the Sands family to Ireland

Some of the Sands family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sands migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Sands surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Sands Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Sands, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607
David Sands, minister who settled in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" 11
George Sands, (Sandis), who landed in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 11
William Sands, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 11
George Sands, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sands Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Geo Sands, who landed in Virginia in 1714 11
Lydia Sands, who landed in Virginia in 1714 11
Alexander Sands, aged 17, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775 11

Sands Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ellen Sands, who settled in New York State in 1804 with James, Francis, Joseph, Mary, Robert, and Thomas
Ellen Sands, aged 1, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 11
John Sands, aged 5, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 11
Joseph Sands, who arrived in New York, NY in 1822 11
William Sands, aged 22, who arrived in America in 1822 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sands migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sands Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Edward Sands U.E. (b. 1760) who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1786 was a Merchant, Major in the Militia, Alderman and Coroner 12

Sands Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Sands, aged 10, who arrived in Montreal in 1841
John Sands, aged 37, who arrived in Montreal in 1841
Mary Sands, aged 35, who arrived in Montreal in 1841
Sophia Sands, aged 8, who arrived in Montreal in 1841

Sands migration to Australia +

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

Sands Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Michael Sands, a shoemaker, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. William Sands, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Samuel Sands, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Somersetshire" in 1839 14
Jemima Sands, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Somersetshire" in 1839 14
Francis Sands, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Birman" in 1840 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sands 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:

Sands Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. George Lewis Sands, (b. 1832), aged 28, British gardener travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 16
mrs. Ruth Sands, (b. 1832), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 16
Margaret Sands, aged 26, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
Mr. James Sands, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 16
Mrs. Margaret Sands, British settler travelling from London, UK with 6 children aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Sands (post 1700) +

Fred Sands (1938-2015), American business executive and real estate investor, Chairman of Vintage Capital Group
Roland Sands (b. 1974), American motorcycle racer, 1998 AMA 250GP National Champion road racer
Robert Charles Sands (1799-1832), American writer and poet
Renee Sands (b. 1974), born Renee Ilene Sandstrom, American singer and actress
Diana Sands (1934-1973), American two-time Tony and two-time Emmy nominated dramatic actress
Comfort Sands (1748-1834), American merchant, banker and politician
Charles Edward Sands (1865-1945), American Olympian who won gold for individual golf during the 1900 games 17
Bradley Sands (b. 1978), American author and editor
Billy Sands (1911-1984), American character actor
Albert H. O. Sands, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 9th District, 1903 18
... (Another 44 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sands family +

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. John Sands (1885-1914), English Miner from Wigan, Lancashire,, England, United Kingdom who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 19

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. William Archibald Martin Sands (1902-1941), Australian Chief Petty Officer from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. Print
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. 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)
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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 of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SOMERSETSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Somersetshire.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BIRMAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Birman.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Athletes - Famous Olympic Athletes, Medalists, Sports Heroes. (Retrieved 2011, June 15) Charles Sands. Retrieved from http://www.olympic.org/content/olympic-athletes/generic-athlete-page/?athleteid=58720
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp