Contents [hide]

Esmond History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Esmond History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The history of the name Esmond begins in the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for a person who was of grace or favorable protection. The surname Esmond originally derived from the Old English word Eastmund which referred to grace. 1

The surname Esmond belongs to a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames. Nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. Often nicknames described strong traits or attributes that people wished to emulate in a specific animal.

Early Origins of the Esmond family

The surname Esmond was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Estmunt was listed in Suffolk. 2 Over a century later, Ricardus filius Estmund was listed in the Pipe Rills for Essex in 1195, and later again, Esmond (surname only) was listed 1313-14. Stephen Estmund was listed in the Assize Rolls of Berkshire in 1227 and Geoffrey Astmund was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in 1275. John Eastmunde was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1277 and Alan Esmund was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285. 1

Many of the family were found in Cambridgeshire where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Geoffrey Estmund; Cecil Estmond; Hugh Estmund; and John Estmond as all holding lands there at that time. 3

In Somerset, John Estmond was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 4

To the far south in Dorset the Eastmond spelling was more prevalent. This entry of the plight of one Catholic family is interesting: "Of this family I can glean nothing whatever, except from Rymer's 'Foedera,' tom, xviii. p. 392, where we learn the complaint of the House of Commons to King Charles, that in the house of Mary Eastmond, in Dorsetshire, had been discovered, by two justices of the peace, divers copes, altars, chalices, &c., who thereupon tendered to her the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and upon her refusing it, committed her to the constable, from whose custody she made her escape; yet that Secretary Lord Conway had written to those justices in her favour." 5

Early History of the Esmond family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Esmond research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1285, 1303, 1570 and 1646 are included under the topic Early Esmond History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Esmond Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Esmond are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Esmond include: Eastman, Eastmunt, Esmund, Estman, Yeastman, Eestman, Eastmun, Eastmen, Eastmin and many more.

Early Notables of the Esmond family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Laurence Esmonde, Lord Esmonde (1570?-1646), Irish Governor of Duncannon, the second son of Walter Esmonde of Johnstown, co...

Migration of the Esmond family to Ireland

Some of the Esmond family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Esmond migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Esmond or a variant listed above:

Esmond Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Esmond, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1684 6

Esmond migration to Australia +

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

Esmond Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Esmond, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 30th September 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 7

Esmond 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:

Esmond Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

H. Esmond, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Epsom" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Esmond (post 1700) +

E. R. Esmond, American politician, U.S. Consul in Medellin, 1884 9
Burton D. Esmond (1870-1944), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Saratoga County, 1922-33 9
James Joseph Esmond (1889-1948), American Major League Baseball shortstop who played from 1911 to 1915
Jill Esmond (1908-1990), born Jill Esmond Moore, an English actress, first wife of Laurence Olivier
Henry Vernon Esmond (1869-1922), born Harry Esmond Jack, Irish-born, British actor and playwright
James William Esmond (1822-1890), Irish-born, Australian gold prospector and miner, one of the first people to discover gold in Australia
Annie Esmond (1873-1945), British film actress who appeared in 80 films
Carl Esmond (1902-2004), Austrian stage actor
James Esmond Bulmer (b. 1935), British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Kidderminster (1974–1983) and for Wyre Forest (1983–1987)
Dr John Esmond Birnie (b. 1965), Irish author, economist, and politician, Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast South (1998-2007)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. 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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html