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| The Jam?son Network digest is a series of essays and articles about anything Jam?son. We invite and encourage you to add your comments to any of these.
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Our Surname - Variations and Origins
Monday - July 1, 2019
The Jam?son surname has so many variations and quite a few derivations it proves all the more so that it has spontaneously come from several origins for one reason or another. This brief will provide some answers and spur more questions, yet, hopefully, provide an idea of the development of the families and clans our branches came from and how they interacted with history. A warning note: Many of the sites on the Internet have no sources whatsoever so take whatever precautions needed when researching any surname in your family. Below, variations take on their own twist and some were just plain mistakes by families and census takers alike. Following is a research on the name, the reasons there came to be so many and so different and what it all means to you, the reader. NOTES A surname carries a lot of significance for the user: honor, credibility and of course reputation, but that’s for an individual. Profoundly, the surname has deep roots that travels back to the core of our existence supplanting loyalty to the state with loyalty to the tribe. Among the many family researchers today can be found the fierce determination and insistence allotted primarily to those of royal background. Examples of this can be found throughout the world, such as:
PATRONYMICS Patronymics[5] is a naming practice based on using, generally, the father’s first name and then, depending upon cultural use a prefix or suffix is added. Using James Gunn for instance, the child’s name could be Peter James-son, or James-sen and while prevalent up until the 1400’s, it is still widely used in Holland and Iceland, today. Early Welsh names via Anglicizing, modifying names and phrases to make them easier to spell or pronounce, was a common method of taking the “ap”, meaning “son of” and applying instead a letter, “s”, to the end of a surname to represent the same thing, though this did not apply to all Welsh names. The Swedes used this form up until the 20th century as Johan Andersson was the son of Anders and Anna Svensdotter was the daughter of Sven. The latter half of Sweden’s 19th century saw use of additional names often from nature where Lindberg derived from “lind” for linden, a type of Dutch tree and “berg” for mountain[6]. The Scots used “mac” meaning son of Donald. The Irish, “Fitz” and “O” for the same thing. Russia uses “ovich” for sons and “ovna” for daughters. Therefore, used mostly for middle names a father’s name like Ivan Krylov had a son Pyotr whose name would be Pyotr IvanovichKrylov[7]. Occupations accorded surnaming especially among cognomens[8] like Smith from coppersmith, blacksmith or goldsmith Mercer derived its history from the French, “mercier” or merchant; and Taylor, also, of French and Latin origin for tailor Webber comes from “weaver” and Trump from “trumpet”[9]. Below is a listing of identities we have used in the past 1000 years. Will there be more-undoubtedly. SURNAME VARIATIONS & BRIEF HISTORIES Surname variations as discovered by Rev. E. O. Jameson and S. M. Jameson[10]: Gamson, Geminson, Gemesin, Gemison, Gemmison, Gemsene[11], Gemson, Gimerson, Gimeson, Gimieson, Giminson, Gimmersin, Gimmeson, Gimpson, Gimsen. Gipson, Iameson, Jaimeson, Jaimson, Jamaison, Jamason, Jameison, Jamenson, Jamerson, Jamesin, Jamesom, Jameson, Jamesone, Jamesoun(e), Jamesson, Jameyson, Jamierson, Jamieson, Jamiesone, Jamierson, Jamiesoun, Jamiesson, Jaminson, Jamirson, Jamisan, Jamisen, Jamisin, Jamison, Jamisone, Jamissen, Jammason, Jammerson, Jammesone, Jammison, Jamson, Jam(e)yson, Janison, Jeamison, Jeamson, Jemarson, Jemeison, Jemerson, Jemeson, Jemeyson, Jemisin, Jemison, Jemmerson, Jemmeson, Jemminson, Jemmisen, Jemmison, Jemmyson, Jempson[12] , Jemsion, Jemson, Jemyson, Jimarrson, Jimason, Jimenson, Jimerson, Jimeson, Jimessone, Jimirson, Jimisin, Jimison, Jimisson, Jimmersin, Jimmerson, Jimmeson, Jimminson, Jimmison, Jimpson, Jimson, Jympson. DERIVATIONS FROM CLANS OR OTHER FAMILIES IN SCOTLAND Cunningham[13], Cunynghame, Cunyhame, Clan Gunn[14] (Hamish, MacCames, MacHames, MacJamais, MacKanes, MacKamish, MacSeumas, Seumas), Clan Keith’s, Clan Stewart/Stuart (Jamieson, Jamison Jameson and Seumas), Hemphill[15], Henderson, McKeimy[16] (McKemmie-probably of Clan Stewart), and MacNeil[17].“The earliest use of this surname dates to Clan Stewart[18]. The first traceable ancestor of this line was Alan, a Breton Lord and hereditary Stewart of Dol, living in 1045[19]. The family was connected to the Counts of Dol and Dinan of Brittany, located in northwestern France in that part earlier called Armorica, the center of this old federation of ancient Celts. In the 12th century the Dukedom came under Geoffrey Plantagenet, son of Henry II of England, a descendant of William the Conqueror. Alan's son, Flaald Fitz.("Fitz"[20] means son of as does "Mac" in Gaelic[21]) became hereditary Stewart of Dol in Brittany when his older brother died on the First Crusade in 1097. Flaald’ s son, Alan Fitz Flaald became the sheriff of Shropshire, while his son, Walter, went on to become the first Stewart of Scotland granted by King David "the Saint" (1124-1153). Alexander, the 4th Stewart, married Jean, daughter of Seumas[22], who was slain in 1210. He was a son of Angus, Lord of Bute and Arran, a descendant of Godfrey, King in Vestfold, Norway, and a son of Harald "the Stingy"[23]. Alexander was born in 1214 and died 1283. He joined the Crusades in 1255, was one of the Regents of Scotland during the minority of Alexander III, King of Scots, and commanded the right wing of the Scot's army at Largs in 1263. “Alexander Fitz Walter had two sons-James and John. John, knighted, had become Sir John Stewart of Bonkill, and died at the Battle of Falkirk. His lines extended through the inheritances of his five illegitimate sons, while those lineages through his natural sons later became extinct. James Fitz Alexander succeeded his father as High Stewart in 1283. Upon his father's death he was chosen a Regent until Alexander III took the throne. He fought bravely beside Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, and later in many important battles beside Robert Bruce in their drive toward Scottish independence. James Stewart married Egidia de Burgh daughter of Walter de Burgh, first Earl of Ulster and Avenlina Fitz John. From James or Seumas (MacSeumas) of Bute were derived the septs MacSeumas, MacCamies/MacKames[24], or Jamieson. From the beginning of the 14th century or perhaps a little earlier the office of Bute was held in heritage by a family named Jamieson[25], in co-partnership with Neilson (Nigel of Kilmorie: Ibid), in connection with the lands of Over Kilmory. Many of the Jamesons/Jamiesons about Glasgow and Argyleshire were immediate descendants of this Neill and these Stewarts in this way. “Throughout Scottish history the name invariably conjures up the name of Clan Gunn, a small, but fiercely independent and battle-scarred tribe that imposed its stamp upon Scotland like no other. Our name has been bandied about for nearly 800 years developing from the 12th century to its present-day manifestations. How many of us Jamesons are from the same root is unknown? Most of us can trace our forefathers to Northern Ireland and with luck[26] back some time to Scotland. Many with the surname Jameson have also taken the name from the family from which they resided[27]." The Gunns came along about 250 years after the Stewart’s in the far north east of Sutherland, but more specifically in Caithness and traditionally been considered part of the Norse ancestry based on the ancient sagas of the day.(Historical research,[28].however, no longer agrees with the old histories and traditions of the era, though the later lineage of the family appears to be intact from Gunni Andersson [29]. when he took over as chief from his father, Anders, which lands came under dispute as the reign changed hands from one sovereign to another. Having left his name, Gunn, as the clan name, his son, Snaekold Gunnison, and a succession of descendant Chiefs, Ottar, to James who sided with King Robert Bruce, Ingram, Donald to William MacHamish, the 1st MacSeumas on down to James, the 2nd MacSeumas is considered the birth of the Jameson sept. Another ancient family name, Fullarton, may have been of Norse or Anglo-Saxon descent and vassals of the Stewarts. Where the town of Irvine sits was once the Barony of Fullarton and the bailiwick of Kyle-Stewart(Renfrewshire) along with once extensive properties on the Isle of Arran retaining these until the end of the 16th century. Possibly arrived on Scottish turf at the time the first Stewart, Walter Fitz-Allan, came settling in Shropshire[30]. The family followed Robert de Bruce to Arran and when he recovered the throne, he signed a charter in his second year at Arnele Castle in Cuninghame granted to Fergus Fullarton the lands of Kilmichail and hereditary of office of Coroner of Arran. They are said to have been descendants of the second son of Lewis and at the same time for whom a third brother stemmed from the Fullerton’s of Bute came the patronymic of MacCamie that is, son of James, and they are often called Jameson[31]. Some variations of the surname were/are: Jamieson, as in Stuart, and Jamison. Origins of the name come from locations as well. There is a tradition brought up by James B. Tannehill in his book, GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE TANNAHILLS, in which a young boy was orphaned and found by an elder couple who brought him up as their own as no would claim the lad. The hill upon which the boy was discovered was a tall hill located in the parish of Kilmarnock owned by a family of Jamesons and known thereabouts as the Tanna Hill Jamesons. So, the couple called him Tommy and added the surname, Tannahill, meaning simply tall or high hill for the place he was found. The family who brought the boy up like the name, so they called themselves the Tannahill’s[32] as well. Perhaps tradition, perhaps not, but a man by the name of James Jameson-Tannahill may have been the beginning of this family name as he possibly added the nickname tanna hill since he was so known among the neighbors. He was born about 1550, Scotland and married Alice McKay. From this point it is assumed that “Tommy” may have been a son of this family. Researches have shown that a number of Tannahills sailed to Maryland and Virginia in the mid to later 17th century. In Stirling County, Thomas Jamie was a resident of Gargunnock Parish located about ten miles west of the city of Stirling. Here, south of Dunbarton Road(A811) among the flat fertile verdant lands of the town so-named nestled by the surrounding agricultural fields stood a family who had difficulty deciding whether they were Jamiesons or of the shortened variety, Jamie/Jaimee. Born about 1590, Thomas was married twice and had a large family of whom many also continued the prolific tradition of raising kids. The records show the surname alternately either way, but one thing is certain, the patronymic remains the same as it does for Jameson and all of its varieties"[33]. “This ancient surname is English although arguably of Hebrew origins. It is a Crusader name and is derived from the early given name Janyn or Jenyn, diminutives of the personal name John. This English spelling is from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'Jehovah has favoured me (with a child)'. The surname dates back to the late 13th Century (see below) and is one of the many Christian names or names associated with Christianity, which were brought back to Europe by returning soldiers and pilgrims from the Holy Land in Medieval times. Exampes(sic) of early recordings include Willelmus Gyneson in the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379, and Robert Genyson[35] in the register of the Guild of the Corpus Christi in the city of York in 1471. “Early London church registers show the marriage of Alis Parke to Robert Jenneson on September 1562 at St. Benet Fink, and the marriage of Elizabeth Jennison to John Case on June 8th 1607, at St. Giles Cripplegate. Henry Jennison, who was an emigrant to the Barbados, is listed on the Burial Register of the Parish of St. Michael's on April 16th 1678. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a silver field charged with a chevron between three black plummets, the crest being a demi griffin propert. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Jenysyn. This was dated 1273 in the rolls known as "Valor Ecclesiasticus", during the reign of King Edward 1st, also known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling[36]. As I have mentioned in previous discourses on this family name, the Jennisons are definitely English. But the Jamesons who did reside in England were probably of the name from Scotland as the two countries merged under one king, Stewart holding sway in England as well and the ranks of our kin swelled and gave birth to those, no doubt, about Wales and Lancashire counties, especially. Many of these Jamesons were in the region long before the 1600’s and it will be interesting to see how research delivers them in the present. One thing is certain, early recorders of the names either had difficulty with their ears or the English dialect was too muffled for them to clearly define the name, so the name was written variously DERIVATIONS FROM OTHER NATIONS
In summary, it is not enough to merely point here or there that a family emerged from thatplace or thisplace. Nor should we develop theories and speculations that hinge on where we think our ancestors inhabited without requiring some proof or other thrown into debate. DNA(see map below)makes the case that peoples out of Africa surged into the Iranian Plateau, but besides heading west a great fraction of these people moved up into the Russian Steppes splintering off east toward Mongolia into Asia and back again through India(Davidians & Scythians) before stepping out into eastern Europe and then finally west. It makes me wonder how many times our ancestors and our descendants in the future haveor willcross over or upon the same paths again and again further muddying our history. It may seem futile, but, then, we are curious by nature and sometimes stupid when it comes to man. The excerpts above for Scotland are from my main history on Jameson and details my thoughts and opinions based on the research I have accumulated over the past decades. It is not complete and may never be for such is the nature of genealogy and the shifting winds or in our case, the shifting migrations over tens of thousands of years. [1] The Sidney Morning Herald, Article by Kim Arlington, journalist at Fairfax Media.
[2] 2019 reddit, inc; The Record.com, Mar. 24, 2017, Ernie Suggs, Waterloo Region Record
[3] Duhaime.org, The Newgate Calendars, Vol. 1, London, Navarre Society, MCMXXVI, 1965.
[4] National Geographic, Culture & History, Article by Hillary Mayell, publ. Feb. 12, 2002.
[5] On the other side of the coin is matronymic, for daughters named after their mothers.
[6] Thought Company, sub. Co. of Dotdash Publishing, Patronymics”.
[7] Encyclopedia Britannica, “Patronymic.
[8] Name used to identify the members of a family.
[9] Surnames from trades, Wikipedia.
[10] Please feel free to send me any others you come across by e-mailing, jamesonone@live.com.
[11] All spellings listed in blue are from the 1901 book by Rev. Jameson.
[12] From Domesday, along w/Jemmett-ref. Patronymica Britannica, Lower, Mark Anthony, 1838-1860.
[13] As researched by Scott M. Jameson 2016-2018. Discovered in Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Aryshire.
[14] Gunns, The, Thomas Sinclair, 1890.
[15] Hemphill as Submitted by: Melissa Hemphill-Guajardo 2/13/2017-Copyright 2013 by Webified Development.com.
[16] As researched by Scott M. Jameson 2016-2018.Discovered in Ayrshire, Scotland
[17] As researched by Scott M. Jameson 2016-2018. Discovered in Bute and Argyleshire, Scotland.
[18] The Jameson Perspective, 2019, Vol. 1, pg. xxxiii.
[19] While I have put a great deal of effort into researching this Brief, some of the very earliest history has been done by scholars of great note long before me.
[20] Fitz, pronounced “fits, is a prefix in patronymic surnames of Norman origins originating in the 11th Century AD meaning “son of” - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2018).
[21] Ibid.
[22] It can only be surmised that Seumas was the originator of the Jamieson surname. Perhaps, with further search this man may be the progenitor of the Jamieson lineage in Bute.
[23] Or so say the old tales of the Norwegians among the Orkney Islands and upper half of Scotland.
[24] And perhaps, MacKemie.
[25] Jamiesoun: The Isle of Bute, Hewiston, 1895, V.2, pg.161
[26] Luck it must be, since many of the Scots who came over to Ulster were loss for all time from the lack of written records in that land. Parish records exist, but they are difficult to read and decipher, and few and far between as most parishes in the early days of the immigration and hence issued a voluntary policy toward this end.)
[27] The Jameson Perspective, 2019, The Jameson Settlements in Scotland, Vol. I, page xxix.
[28] The History of the Earls of Orkney " in literal translation, author unknown, c. 1200 A.D., speaks of the history of the Northern Isles and Caithness, without which the Viking influence and past would be irretrievably lost. However, like the City of Atlantis, there is very little to document the Norwegian Jarls of this early era or of their descendants to prove the lineage down to Clan Gunn. [29] Gunns, The, Sinclair, Thomas, 1890. [30] Some contention exists whether this family was Anglo-Saxon or Norman.
[31] History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton, James Paterson, Edinburgh, 1863, Vol. 1,Kyle, Part II, ps.450-1 [32] Genealogical History of the Tannahills, James B. Tannehill, L. A. CA, Chp. 1, pg.2. [33] Genealogy research by s. m. jameson, ©2019 The Jameson Perspective smj/tjp. [34] Jamesons In America, The, Jameson, Rev. E. O., 1901. [35] These English variations are actually descriptive of an entirely different surname altogether.
[40] An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on Their Derivation and Import, Arthur, William, NY, NY, 1857.
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