The Davison's
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Family History
The surname of DAVISON was a baptismal name 'the son of David'. Early records of the name mention Henry Davy, County Somerset, during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Matilda Dauy was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. John Davyson married Elizabeth Bella in London in the year of 1526. The name has been perennially popular in honour of the biblical king of the name, the greatest of early kings of Israel, and led to this being a given name throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Its popularity increased in Britain firstly by virtue of its being the name of the patron saint of Wales (about which very little is known); he was probably a 6th century monk and bishop, and secondly because it was borne by two kings of Scotland (David I reigned 1124-53 and David II (1329-71). Its popularity in Russia is largely due to the fact that this was the church name adopted by St. Gleb (died.1015) one of the two sons of Vladimir, duke of Muscovy, who were martyred for their Christian zeal. The bulk of European surnames in countries such as England and France were formed in the 13th and 14th centuries. The process started earlier and continued in some places into the 19th century, but the norm is that in the 11th century people did not have surnames, whereas by the 15th century they did. William Davison (1541-1608) was Queen Elizabeths' secretary in 1586-87 and her stalking horse in the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, after which he was imprisoned for two years in the Tower of London. A notable member of the name was Emily Davison (1872-1913) the English Suffragette, born in Blackheath. She was educated first at London University and then Oxford, where she took a first in English. In 1906 she became a militant member of the Women's Social and Political Union. In the 1913 Derby, wearing a WSPU banner, she tried to catch the reins of the king's horse, and was trampled underfoot. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. |