ANDERSON
ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION
ANDERSON
ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION
ANDERSON / MacANDREW / GILLANDERS, etc., are all surnames with the name ‘ANDREW’ at the heart, which is a Greek name meaning “manly” which is claimed to have been in use for well over two thousand years. Perhaps the most famous man to bear the name was the first Disciple of Christ, who became the Patron Saint of not only Russia, Rumania, Prussia, Amalfi and Patras in Greece, but also of Scotland.
Legend has it that the relics of St. Andrew were brought under supernatural guidance by St. Regulus from Constantinople to the place where the modern St. Andrews now stands. Whether this is true or not, it was about the middle of the 10th century, when St. Andrew became the Patron Saint of Scotland and the use of Andrew as a Christian name subsequently became widely popular. Going by the number of English parish churches dedicated to St. Andrew, it is also clear that the name became very popular in widespread areas throughout the British Isles and even ranked a mention of one “Andreas” in the Doomsday Book of 1086.”
In England, the registers of "The Guild of Corpus Christi of the City of York" reveal one 'Androson' in 1455 and an 'Androwson' in 1482. The name Anderson has proliferated wherever emigres from these shores ended up and due to the particular popularity of the name in Scotland, this often, but not exclusively, leads back to Scottish ancestry for large numbers in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. However, many of the American Andersons are of Swedish origin (Andersson is the most prevalent name in the Stockholm telephone directory). To a lesser degree, Andersons are indigenous all over Europe, the origin of the name being the same in most countries where it is found, and its pan-European popularity undoubtedly stems from St Andrew.
Of the many publications that cover family history and names, there are few books that can be found that specifically cover the name Anderson or MacAndrew. Of those that do and in the majority by far, are books on Scottish Clans and Families, many of which include some coverage of the name. Over the last couple of centuries or so, most of these publications have served our genus poorly with material that has been heavily flawed and in many cases, pure myth! Unfortunately, too many accept what they read as the truth, but there would seem little point in developing a sense of pride in the 'highly questionable' material that has so far prevailed. That all Andersons descend from the 'Celtic Earls of Ross' as one can see promoted in many works on Scottish Clan history, is a claim which has not as yet, been substantiated. In fact there appears no real rationale for coming to this conclusion, other than the ancient Clan Ross was known as Clan Aindreas. As research progresses, overwhelming evidence appears to suggest that both the popularity of the name 'Andrew' and the ancient practice of a patronymic system of surnames, (particularly in Scotland), accounts for the majority of Andersons, and would indeed belie the concept of descent from a common ancestor. Likewise, theories that the name Anderson has somehow undergone a transformation from various Celtic forerunners such as MacAndrew, Gillanders, or MacGhilleAindrias, have not so far stood up to the light of fresh research. This makes it doubly important not to fall into the trap of "presumption" and "speculation" as sound research begins to uncover the true stories that lie behind present day Anderson Families. An account can be found at this link, of the name MacAndrew by Dr Robert McAndrew, which reveals much that endorses these views.
Arms of
ANDERSON
OF THAT ILK
ANDERSON
OF THAT ILK
HISTORY