Place of Birth

Mississippi
Tribal Affiliation

Shabtau
Surname Heritage

Scotland / Ireland

Henderson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The age-old Pictish-Scottish family name Henderson is derived from the personal nameHendry, which is a chiefly Scottish derivative of the name Henry. There were two main branches of the Henderson family, one at Glencoe, in the lower Highlands, and one at Caithness, in the extreme north of Scotland.

Early Origins of the Henderson family

The surname Henderson was first found in Caithness, Glencoe, the Shetland Islands, Liddlesdale, and Fordell. One origin claims the Henderson family descend from Great Henry, son of King Nechtan, who was also the progenitor of the MacDonalds of Glencoe. However, the branch of the Henderson to whom this story relates also claim to have settled in the Glencoe territory many years before the Maclains or MacDonalds arrived there. This is consistent with the theory that this family are a branch of the northern family who moved south and became attached to the MacDonalds.

Generally noted as great fighters, they became bodyguards of the Chief of the MacDonalds. They were also the hereditary pipers of that Clan, sometimes referred to as the Maclains.

Later, in about 1530, there emerged another section of the Henderson Clan in the Border country of Liddesdale but the connection between this group and the main Clan is somewhat tenuous. However, it is known that many of the Highland Clans were invited, coerced or transported, sometimes as a whole sometimes as a branch, to the border country to provide better defenses against English attacks along the Border.

Early History of the Henderson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henderson research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1692, 1511, 1494, 1494, 1583, 1646, 1638, 1430, 1506, 1460, 1500, 1420, 1430, 1510, 1590, 1510, 1638, 1600, 1606, 1865 and 1618 are included under the topic Early Henderson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Henderson Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Henderson has appeared Henderson, Henreyson, Henryson, MacKendrick and many more.

Early Notables of the Henderson family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was James Henderson, of the Fordell line, who became Lord Advocate of Scotland in 1494. Perhaps the greatest Henderson of all was Alexander Henderson (c.1583-1646) of Fife, minister of Leuchars, who attended of St. Andrews University. In 1638, he drafted the National Covenant of Scotland, and is generally considered the “2nd founder,” after Knox, of the Presbyterian church in Scotland. Robert Henryson (1430?-1506?) was a poet who flourished in Scotland in the period c. 1460-1500.

Henderson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Henderson is the 81^st most popular surname with an estimated 236,265 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Henderson is ranked the 143^rd most popular surname with an estimated 23,218 people with that name. [2] And in Australia, the name Henderson is the 99^th popular surname with an estimated 25,950 people with that name. [3] New Zealand ranks Henderson as 62^nd with 4,993 people. [4] The United Kingdom ranks Henderson as 111^st with 43,537 people. [5]

Migration of the Henderson family to Ireland

Some of the Henderson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

Henderson migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Henderson:

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Henderson, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1607 [6]
Alex Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1650 [6]
Gilbert Henderson, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [6]
John Henderson, who arrived in Maryland in 1655 [6]
Henrick Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1657 [6]

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1704 [6]
John Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [6]
Jacob Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1710 [6]
Charles Henderson, who was banished to Virginia in 1716
William Henderson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 [6]

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Henderson, who landed in America in 1800 [6]
Samuel Henderson, who landed in Virginia in 1800 [6]
James Henderson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 [6]
David Henderson, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 [6]
Ann Henderson, aged 8, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 [6]

Henderson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Hamilton McKennie Henderson, who arrived in Alabama in 1917 [6]

Henderson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Henderson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Henderson, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Charles Henderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Nathaniel Henderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Emanl Henderson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Margaret Henderson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Henderson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Henderson, who arrived in Canada in 1817
John Henderson, who arrived in Canada in 1820
Charlotte Henderson, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Nancy” in 1834
Henry Henderson, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Nancy” in 1834
Ann Jane Henderson, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Nancy” in 1834

Henderson migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Henderson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Samuel Henderson, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Claudine” on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [7]
Mrs. Mary Henderson, (b. 1804), aged 25, Irish dairy maid who was convicted in Fermanagh, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Edward” on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]
Mr. Joseph Henderson, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Dunvegan Castle” on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [9]
Mr. James Henderson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Burrell” on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales [10]
Mr. James Henderson, (b. 1809), aged 22, Scottish soldier born in Lanark, Scotland who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the “Bussorah Merchant” on 16th August 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]

Henderson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Henderson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

David Henderson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Thomas Henderson, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
William Henderson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Thomas Maxwell Henderson, aged 29, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “London” in 1840
Catherine Henderson, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “London” in 1840

Henderson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [12]