Mason Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Mason Origin:

France, England

Origins of Mason:

The surname of Mason comes from the medieval time period, and hails from the country of France. This surname of Mason is actually one of status, denoting that the original bearer of this surname was a very skilled stone mason, or someone who had served his time as an apprentice to a master mason craftsman. Since the surname of Mason is occupational, this means that the original bearer of the surname of Mason actually carried out this job. Occupational surnames were not originally hereditary surnames. They only became hereditary if the son followed in his father’s footsteps for a career; then the surname became hereditary and was used by the children and spouse of the son. It is believed that the actual derivation of the surname of Mason comes from the Old French word of “masson” which would have been introduced into the country of England following the Norman Invasion of 1066. During this time period, it was very unlikely that Britain had very many buildings that were constructed out of stone, so it is believed that not only did the French bring the word to the country, they also brought the skill of masonry following the Norman Invasion of 1066.

Variations:

More common variations are: Mawson, Masson, Mayson, Meason, Maison, Mauson, Masoni, Masona, Masone, Masoun

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Mason can be found within the country of England. One person who was named as Richard Machun was mentioned in the Charters of the Danelaw, which were for the County of Lincolnshire in the year of 1120. These documents were ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King Henry I of England, who was commonly referred to throughout the ages as one “The Lion of Justice.” King Henry I of England ruled from the year 1100 to the year 1135. Other mentions of the surname of Mason within the country of England include John Macun was was mentioned in the building accounts of King Henry I in the year of 1130, and one Ace le Mazun, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of the County of Lincolnshire in the year of 1193. Those who bear the surname of Mason can be found throughout the country of England. The areas with the larger concentrations of those who bear the surname of Mason can be found within the county of Essex, and the areas in and around the city of London.

Scotland:

Those who bear the surname of Mason can be found within the country of Scotland. Those who carry this surname are seen in high concentrations in the areas of Midlothian and Lanarkshire counties.

United States of America:

Throughout the 17th Century, it was common for European citizens to migrate to the United States of America because of the state of their home countries. Disgruntled citizens were upset with the living conditions in their home countries, and moved to the New World, as America was called at this time. The large movement of people was referred to as The European Migration. Those who are known by the surname of Mason can be found in Virginia, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Mason: United States 175,554; England 48,161; Australia 19,652; Canada 15,606; South Africa 7,598; Sierra Leone 7,355; Liberia 5,967; New Zealand 4,182; Scotland 3,767; Italy 3,706

Notable People:

Anthony George Douglas Mason (1966-2015) who was a Basketball player from America from the year 1988 to the year 2003

George Mason IV (1725-1792) who was a statesmen and patriot from America whose work as A delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention from Virginia gained the title of “Father of the Bill of Rights” and who is a “Founding Father of the United States

Private First Class Leonard Foster Mason (1920-1944) who was a Marine during of the Battle of Guam and was subsequently awarded the Congressional Metal of Honor for acts of Heroism in the year 1944

Daniel Gregory Mason (1873-1953) who was a composer from America

Willaim Mason (1873-1953) who was a musician from America

Frank Herbert Mason who is and educator and artist as well as an instructor of fine arts in New York City

Alpheus Thomas Mason (1899-1989) who was a Law professor at Princeton University from America as well as an author on American constitution and political thought

Nicholas “Nick” Berkeley Mason who was born in the year 1944 in England and Is the drummer for Pink Floyd

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Grade, co. Cornwall). Az. a fesse embattled betw. three griffins’ heads erased or.
2) (Hemingford and Cuckney, co. Huntingdon). (Sion, co. Middlesex). Or, a lion ramp. az. Crest—A mermaid with comb and glass ppr.
3) (Aldenham Lodge, co. Hertford). (Greenwich, co. Kent; granted 1739). Per fesse erm. and az. a lion ramp. with two heads counterchanged. Crest—A mermaid per fesse wavy ar. and az. the upper part guttée de larmes, holding in her dexter hand a comb, and in the sinister a mirror, frame and hair sa.
4) (London, 1634). Ar. a fesse az. in chief two lions’ heads couped of the last. Crest—A lion’s head az. betw. two wings ar. on the arms and crest a mullet for diff.
5) (Inner Temple, London, and Stratford-upon-Avon, co. Warwick). Az. on a point with three battlements ar. as many fleurs-de-lis gu. on the middle battlement a dove, wings displ. ppr.
6) (Didlebury and Minton, co. Salop). Vert two lions combatant or. Crest—A mermaid ppr.
7) (co. Warwick). Per fesse embattled az. and ar. on the embattlement a dove, wings expanded ar. beaked and legged gu. in base three fleurs-de-lis of the last, two and one. Crest—A talbot pass. reguard. ar. eared sa. holding in the mouth a hart’s horn or.
8) (co. York). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, per fesse or and gu. a lion ramp. counterchanged; 2nd, or, a lion ramp. with two heads az.; 3rd, ar. a chev. gu. betw. three snails sa.
9) (Beel House, near Amersham, co. Bucks). Az. a lion ramp. with two heads ar. holding betw. the paws a crescent or, quartering Pomeroy, viz., Ar. a lion ramp. sa. a bordure engr. gu. Crest—A demi lion ramp. ar. holding a crescent or.
10) Per pale ar. and sa. a chev. betw. three masons’ squares all counterchanged. Crest—A stag’s head erased sa. attired or, ducally gorged gold.
11) Ar. guttée de sang a lion ramp. with two heads az.
12) (Necton Hall, co. Norfolk; descended from Paul Miller Mason, citizen of London, who first built, and fixed his family at Necton, temp. Henry VII.; George Mason, Esq., second son of William Mason, Esq., of Necton, and grandson of William Mason, Esq. of Necton, by Elizabeth, his wife, dau. of Francis Blomefield, assumed the name of Blomefield, a. his eldest brother, William Mason, Esq., of Necton, 1865, and d. 1871, when the estates devolved on his eldest sister, Elizabeth Mason, of Necton). Motto—God my trust. Ar. a fesse az. two lions’ heads in chief of the second. Crest—A lion’s head winged az.
13) (Ireland). Ar. a lion ramp. with two heads az. Crest—Three Moors’ heads conjoined in one neck, wreathed round the temples vert.
14) (granted by Carney, Ulster, 1697, to Robert Mason, of the City of Dublin). Motto—Sola virtus munimentum. Quarterly, or and erm. a lion ramp. az. Crest—A tower triple-towered gu. within a chaplet or.
15) (Masonbrook, co. Galway; confirmed, 1711, to Robert Mason, Esq., of Masonbrook, son of Robert Mason, Esq., of same place, and grandson of Captain Christopher Mason, descended from Mason, of Sion, co. Middlesex; of this family were John Monck Mason, and his brothers William, Henry, and Thomas, sons of Lieut.-Col. Henry Monck Mason). Or, a lion ramp. with two heads gu. Crest—A mermaid with comb and mirror all ppr.
16) (Ayr and Rosebank, Scotland). Motto—Demeure par la vérité. Ar. a bend wavy az. betw. two spur-rowels in chief and a fleur-de-lis in base gu. Crest—A tower ppr. masoned sa.
17) (Mordun, co. Edinburgh, 1795). Motto—Arte firmus. Ar. a bend wavy betw. two mullets in chief az. and a fleur-de-lis in base gu. Crest—A fortified house ppr.
18) (Inveresk, co. Edinburgh). Motto—Dominus providebit. Ar. a bend wavy az. betw. two spur-rowels in chief and a fleur-de-lis in base gu. within a bordure engr. of the second. Crest—A house ppr. ensigned on the top with a crescent ar.