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Empson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Empson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Empson comes from the son of Emery. 1

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Emery' whence Emerson, corrupted to Emson, and with intrusive 'p' to Empson. This is proved by the following entries relating to one and the same man:

Richard Emryson, 1490: Scriba Registri Domini Prioris Dunelm. Sanctuarium Dunelmensis et sanctuarium Beverlacense.

Richard Emereson, 1491: ibid.

Richard Empson, 1495: ibid." 1

Early Origins of the Empson family

The surname Empson was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Empson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Empson research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1473 and 1510 are included under the topic Early Empson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Empson Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Empson were recorded, including Empson, Emson and others.

Early Notables of the Empson family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Richard Empson or Emson (d. 1510), English statesman and lawyer, "son of Peter Empson of Towcester, Northamptonshire, and Elizabeth, his wife. The father, who died in 1473, is invariably described...
but Peter Empson was clearly a person of wealth and influence in Towcester, whatever his occupation. " 2

Empson migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Empson family emigrate to North America:

Empson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Willi Empson, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 3
William Empson, who landed in Maryland in 1637 3
William Empson, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 3
William Empson, who landed in Maryland in 1648 3
Cornelius Empson who settled in west New Jersey in 1664
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel Empson, who arrived in New England in 1768

Empson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Empson, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1837 3
George Empson, who settled in Bermuda in 1850

Empson migration to Australia +

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

Empson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Empson, aged 35, a joiner, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Joseph Rowan" 4

Empson 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:

Empson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Empson, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship London
Charles Empson, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Empson (post 1700) +

G. Raymond Empson (b. 1872), American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Delta County, 1915-16 5
Sir William Empson (1906-1984), English literary critic and poet
Sir Richard Empson, English politician
Sir Charles Empson, British Diplomat
Admiral Sir Derek Empson,
Tameka Empson (b. 1978), British actress
Matthew Empson Welsh (1912-1995), American politician, 41st Governor of Indiana (1961 to 1965)

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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
South Australian Register Saturday 17th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Joseph Rowan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/josephrowan1854.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html