JAMISON
Jamison is a surname that is deeply rooted in the history of the British Isles, with particular prominence in Scotland and England. The name is chiefly a patronymic form, meaning it originally denoted the descendants of an ancestor named James.
The personal name James is derived from the Latin Jacobus, which in turn originates from the Hebrew Yaakov. In that language the root signifies “supplanter” or “one who follows.” Consequently, Jamison literally translates to “son of James.” The same etymological pathway explains the presence of related surnames such as Jacob and Jamieson, the latter being a common Scottish variant.
Documentary evidence of the surname dates back to the 12th century. In 1160 the name Jacobus is recorded in Lincolnshire, as part of the social and economic records of the Danelaw. By the mid‑13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Salop (1255) in the form of James de Audithleg, indicating the early use of a patronymic structure in English record‑keeping.
The following century saw further documented instances, including a John Jameson listed in the Register of the Freemen of York in 1440. In 1445 a safe conduct granted to Alexander Jemison allowed him to trade between Scotland and England, illustrating the surname’s growing commercial associations. The name continued to appear in public documents, such as the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379, where the first recorded spelling is that of William Jamesson.
In Scotland the surname is frequently seen in the form Jamieson, a reflection of regional linguistic variation. Beyond the British Isles, the name gained prominence through individuals such as William Jameson, a pioneer of tree‑planting in India, and James Sligo Jameson (1856‑1888), a naturalist and African traveller who produced sketches of a cannibal banquet. These figures illustrate the breadth of influence that bearers of the name have enjoyed across different fields.
Heraldic tradition associated with the family includes a distinct coat of arms granted to John Jameson Esq. of Windfield, Galway. The escutcheon is described as a gold saltire, cantoned in the chief and flanks by Roman galleys and a gold bugle‑horn in the base. The family’s motto, “Sine Metu,” is Latin for “Without Fear.”
Across its history, the surname Jamison remains a clear example of an English patronymic that reflects both linguistic evolution—from Hebrew through Latin to English—and the migration of families across the modern borders of Scotland and England.
Typical given names associated with the Jamison surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Robert
- Samuel
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Carla
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Joanne
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sara
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Jamison in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 839 people named Jamison in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,475th most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Jamison.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Jamison
- Evelyn Jamison - Medievalist and historian (1877 to 1972)
- Ross Jamison - Hong Kong racing driver
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.