Nation Study

NATION STUDY is solely for people with the unusual surname of 'Nation or Nations' (and their spouse only). Countries of birth include the UK(2831), USA(3238), Canada(78), Australia(478), New Zealand(58), India(64), Jamaica(170), France(6), Germany(5), Switzerland(1) and Peru(2).

It should be noted that in England there were many instances during the 1600/1700's the Latin spelling 'NationE' was used and in Devon the name was recorded as 'NationS' in some branches. I have recorded all foreign spellings (Nacion, Nachin, Natione, Natien, Nashion, Nashon, Nayshon, Nashen) as 'Nation' but left 'Nations' as recorded. However, during compulsory registration from Sep 1837 - until Jun 1918 when Shelmar Nations was registered - there have been no 'NationS' recorded in the UK. The name is quite prevalent in the USA beginning with Nation and changing around 1800 to Nations in some branches.

In Britain, hereditary surnames were adopted in the 13th and 14th centuries, initially by the aristocracy but eventually by everyone. By 1400, most English and Scottish people had acquired surnames, but many Scottish and Welsh people did not adopt surnames until the 17th century, or even later. Henry VIII (1509 - 1547) ordered that marital births be recorded under the surname of the father.

The earliest record I have found reference to is the Marriage of
John Nation and Pascow Fenner in 1520 at Kingston St Mary, Somerset, England.

Spelling of names in past centuries is often assumed to be a deliberate choice by a family, but due to very low literacy rates, the reality is that many families could not provide the spelling of their surname, and so the scribe, clerk, minister, or official would write down the name on the basis of how it was spoken, or how they heard it. This results in a great many variations including Naton/Natton & variants, Nathan & variants, Nason/Nasson & variants, and many other obsure forms, this is a surname of uncertain origins.
With the increase in bureaucracy, officially-recorded spellings tended to become the standard for a given family.

QUOTE from surnamedb.com
"It has been claimed that the 'Nathan' surname in England in its various forms is most generally found in the Midlands region, and this may be so, although it is equally well recorded in London.
As 'Nason' it is mainly recorded in Ireland where it is understood that it was a Dutch introduction following the victory of William of Orange in 1690 over the army of his father-in-law, King James 11nd of England and Ireland."
BUT...Nason marriages were also recorded at Warwickshire and Gloucestershire, England in 1587. 100 years earlier!

I would welcome contributions on the origin of the NATION name. Let me know what you think ? Some are as follows:
  "John, an Englishman by descent" would be translated from the Latin "Johannes Anglicus natione". Could this be a John Nation ?
  John Nash had a son whose name evolved into Nashon which is phonetically interchangeable with Nation.
  Patronymica Britannica (1860) lists Robert Nation under names formed from "Countries, Places Etc." Could it be as simple as       Robert England or Robert Wales ?
MORE LIKELY...The surname began as Nacion, for "Nationals", a term used for landlords brought by Queen Isabella de Tallifer of Angouleme when she married King John of England about 1205, nobles were given tracts of land in North Somerset.

I have tried very hard to make sure the 'NATION' data provided here is accurate and reliable by supplying census images where possible (ongoing project) for birth and marriage decades but there will always be errors so only use this site as a guide on where to look and who to look for when doing your research. I am listing infant mortality in the Find section because I must rely on contributions from you to link them to their parents.

If you have any questions or comments about the information on this site or would like to contribute,
please contact me with proposed additions and/or changes. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards... Janice Nation

1851 UK CENSUS (2% Sample Only)
To emphasize my belief in freedom of information; and for the benefit of others I have included in my genealogy pages a searchable database by surname and household of a 2% sample of the 1851 United Kingdom Census comprising of over 425,000 individuals. (Ireland excluded) I have no relationship with anyone listed therein - it is not part of my research - I just like to share.
If you find someone, click the spyglass icon to find other individuals with the same location.

MY FAMILY This database is obviously about my personal family. I hope you enjoy the many facts, bits of information and the pictures on the website. We are Australians who originated in England (my dad's grandfather) & Scotland (my mother).
If you find yourself named here - please contact me. © All Photographs