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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2016
Origins Available: Dutch, English, German, Scottish
Where did the Scottish Ness family come from? What is the Scottish Ness family crest and coat of arms? When did the Ness family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the Ness family history?Ness was first used as a surname by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The ancestors of the Ness family lived in any of a number of places called Ness, in Scotland and England. In this case, the surname Ness comes from the Old English word, ness, which means headland. Thus, the surname Ness means someone "from the headland." However, some references claim the name came from the Gaelic personal name Ness.
Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Ness has appeared Ness, Nesse, Nessan, Neeson and others.
First found in Fife, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ness research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1093, 1153, 1160, 1180, and 1260 are included under the topic Early Ness History in all our PDF Extended History products.
More information is included under the topic Early Ness Notables in all our PDF Extended History products.
Some of the Ness family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products.
Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Ness:
Ness Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- An Cath. Ness, who settled in New York in 1710
- Georg Wilhelm Ness, who came to New York, NY sometime between 1710 and 1714
- Ann Cath. Ness went to New York, NY in the fall of 1710 and was given aid by the British Government to survive her first winter there, a debt which she, among hundreds of others, did not repay
- An Cath Ness, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710
- Mathias Ness and his wife Maria Barbara settled in Philadelphia with their six sons in 1731
Ness Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- James Ness, aged 16, a moulder, arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"
- Paul Ness, aged 15, a moulder, arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"
- Angus Ness, aged 4, arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"
- Hugh Ness, aged 9, arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"
- Mrs. Janet Ness, aged 39, a servant, arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "James Jardine"
- Mike Ness (b. 1962), American guitarist and vocalist
- Don Ness, American Democrat politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 2000; Elected Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota 2011
- Frank C. Ness, American Democrat politician, Postmaster at Lake Grove, New York, 1947
- Julius B. Ness, American politician, Member of South Carolina State Senate from Bamberg County, 1957-58; Circuit Judge in South Carolina 2nd Circuit; Elected 1958
- Laurie Ness, American politician, Mayor of Pipestone, Minnesota; Elected 2012
- Susan Ness, American Democrat politician, Member, Federal Communications Commission, 1994-2001
- Thomas Ness, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 12th District, 2000
- James Peter Van Ness (1808-1872), American politician, Mayor of San Francisco, California, 1855-56; Member of California State Senate, 1871
- Jacob Van Ness, American politician, Postmaster at Poughkeepsie, New York, 1819-21
- Hugh Van Ness, American Democrat politician, Candidate for supervisor of Bedford Township, Monroe County, Michigan, 1940
- Barrow, G.W.S Ed. Acts of Malcom IV 1153-65 Volume I Regesta Regum Scottorum 1153-1424. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1960. Print.
- Fulton, Alexander. Scotland and Her Tartans: The Romantic Heritage of the Scottish Clans and Families. Godalming: Bramley, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-86283-880-0).
- Prebble, John. The Highland Clearances. London: Secker & Warburg, 1963. Print.
- Moncrieffe, Sir Ian of That Ilk and David Hicks. The Highland Clans The Dynastic Origins, Cheifs and Background of the Clans. New York: C.N. Potter, 1968. Print.
- Best, Hugh. Debrett's Texas Peerage. New York: Coward-McCann, 1983. Print. (ISBN 069811244X).
- Burke, Sir Bernard. Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry Including American Families with British Ancestry 2 Volumes. London: Burke Publishing, 1939. Print.
- Matthews, John. Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book. London: John Matthews, 1911. Print.
- Innes, Thomas and Learney. Scots Heraldry A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principles and Mordern Application of the Art and Science. London: Oliver and Boyd, 1934. Print.
- Paul, Sir James Balfour. An Ordinary of Arms Contained in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland Second Edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1903. Print.
- Bowman, George Ernest. The Mayflower Reader A Selection of Articales from The Mayflower Descendent. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
The Ness Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Ness Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 18 January 2016 at 10:54.
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