This interesting surname recorded in various spellings including Sandland, Sandiland, Sandilands, Sandlin, Sandling, and Sondland, is of Anglo-Scottish origins. When Scottish it is locational from a barony known as 'The lands of Sandilands' in the Upper Ward of Clydesdale, the derivation being from the Old English pre 7th century words "sand" and "land", and a reference to the sandy soil in the area. In 1348, the Sandilands family were confirmed in their ownership of the lands from which they derive their name by a charter from William, lord of Douglas, whilst James de Sandylandes appears as a witness in the register of Sancto Marie de Neubotle in 1357. In England the origin may still be Scottish or it may be from Sandling, a village in Kent. Recordings in the diocese of Greater London include that on August 3rd 1550 of Thomas Sandland and Alyce Atkyns, who were married at St. Margaret's Westminster, whilst Ralph Sandlin was a witnes at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on August 8th 1712. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Sandilands, a vassal of William, Earl of Douglas. This was dated 1336, in the Records of Land Grants in Peebleshire, during the reign of King David 11 of Scotland, 1329 - 1371. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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