Contents [hide]

Emerson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Emerson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The illustrious name literally means 'the son of Emery,' 1 or 'Emery’s Son.' 2 The name Emery dates back to the Domesday Book 3 when the Latin version Amalricus, was first listed. 4

Early Origins of the Emerson family

The surname Emerson was first found in Durham at Finchdale, where William Emeryson was recorded in 1411. Later in 1498, Cuthbert Emerson was listed as a Freeman of York in 1498. 4

Richard Emryson, Yorkshire was listed in Historia Dunelmensis, but no dates were listed. Surtees Society also lists William Emeryson, Yorkshire: Priory of Finchale; and Richard Emerson, Yorkshire Testamenta Eboracensia. 1

"The Emersons, who lived at Hill Close House, Darlington, [Durham] for centuries, are still represented in that town and its neighbourhood." 5

Early History of the Emerson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Emerson research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1100, 1701, 1782 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Emerson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Emerson Spelling Variations

The name Emerson, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Emerson, Emmerson, Emerston and others.

Early Notables of the Emerson family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

William Emerson (1701-1782), English mathematician, the son of Dudley Emerson, a schoolmaster, was born at Hurworth, Durham, on 14 May 1701...

Emerson Ranking

In the United States, the name Emerson is the 926^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Emerson family to Ireland

Some of the Emerson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Emerson migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Emerson family, or who bore a variation of the surname Emerson were

Emerson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Emerson, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "Sampson" 7
Thomas Emerson, aged 11, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" 7
Mrs. Ann Emerson, settled in Virginia in 1623 from Durham aboard the ship "George"
Ellis Emerson, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" 7
Jo Emerson, aged 20, British settler who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Emerson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henry Emerson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 7
Susanna Emerson, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 7
Tho Emerson, who landed in Virginia in 1717 7

Emerson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mrs. Emerson, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 7
Jonas Emerson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1812 7
J Emerson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 7
S A Emerson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 7
Mr. Emerson, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Emerson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Emerson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

George Emerson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
William Emerson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mr. John Emerson U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 8
Mr. Thomas Emerson U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, New Brunswick c. 1784 8
Mr. Thomas Emerson U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 74th Regiment 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Emerson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Mrs. Emerson, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
G C M Emerson, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Emerson migration to Australia +

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

Emerson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Emerson, aged 41, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Standard" 9
Robert Emerson, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Lismoyne"

Emerson 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:

Emerson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Emerson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
Elizabeth Emerson, aged 43, a dairy woman, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
Fanny Emerson, aged 24, a dairymaid, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
Eleanor Emerson, aged 22, a dairymaid, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
Elizabeth Emerson, aged 20, a dairymaid, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Emerson 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. 10

Emerson Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Arthur Emerson, who landed in Antigua (Antego) in 1735-1736 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Emerson (post 1700) +

Claudia Emerson (b. 1957), American poet awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry collection Late Wife, Poet Laureate of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine in 2008
William Robert Emerson (1925-2023), known during his recording career as Billy "The Kid" Emerson and later as Rev. William R. Emerson, an American preacher and former R&B and rock and roll singer and songwriter, best known for his 1955 song, "Red Hot."
William Hundley "Bill" Emerson Jr. (1938-2021), American five-string banjo player, one of the founding members of the original The Country Gentlemen and Emerson & Waldron and considered one of the finest bluegrass banjo players in music history
Billy "The Kid" Emerson (b. 1929), American R&B and rock and roll singer and songwriter
Michael Emerson (b. 1954), American stage and screen actor
Hope Emerson (1897-1960), American film actress
George Barrell Emerson (1797-1881), American Educator and pioneer of women's education rights
Jonathan Emerson (1874-1956), American screen actor
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American poet, essayist, and philosopher, he was called "the sage of Concord" in his home town in Massachusetts, and became the chief spokesman for Transcendentalism
Alfred E. Emerson, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Jefferson County, 1927 11
... (Another 76 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Emerson family +

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Frank L. Emerson, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 12
Miss Georgie B. Emerson, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; she died 12

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STANDARD 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1852.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1