William Deans (baptised 31 January 1817 – 23 July 1851) was, together with his brother John, a pioneer farmer in Canterbury, New Zealand.
"[1] Deans returned to Wellington and convinced his brother John, who had since emigrated to Nelson and was equally disappointed, to move to Canterbury.
In February 1843, William Deans sailed south with two other families (Gebbie and Manson) who also wanted to settle in Canterbury.
He arrived in Port Cooper (since renamed Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō) in June 1843, having suffered the loss of many animals in the rough passage.
[3] In December 1846, the Deans brothers signed a 21-year lease with a Māori chief, Te One, for land within 6 miles (9.7 km) of their farm.