Show ContentsRicheson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Richeson was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Old German name "Ricard," meaning "powerful" and "brave." 1

Early Origins of the Richeson family

The surname Richeson was first found in Cheshire in 1067 where they were descended from Hugh d'Avranche, Earl Lupus of Chester. His descendant, William Belwood, Lord of Malpas in Cheshire, had two sons, David and Richard. Richard's grandson John was the first to bear the name Richardson.

Years later the Yorkshire Poll Tax records revealed William Richardson in 1381 and further north in Scotland, Thome filius Ricardi held a charter of the barony of Symundestone in Lanark c. 1315-1321. A few years later, Laurence filius Ricardi was a tenant of the Earl of Douglas in Louchurde in 1376. Murdac Richardesson, a Scottish merchant complained the English had sunk his vessel during a truce in 1359. 2

Richeson is "essentially a north of England name, extending across the border into Dumfriesshire, and also, but to a less extent, characteristic of most of the east coast counties as far south as Kent and Sussex. The counties of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Durham, Northumberland, and the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire contain the greatest number of the name." 3

Early History of the Richeson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Richeson research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1569, 1572, 1576, 1580, 1594, 1600, 1603, 1606, 1618, 1624, 1625, 1627, 1628, 1635, 1642, 1651, 1654, 1660, 1664, 1667, 1674, 1679, 1682, 1686, 1688, 1689, 1690, 1693, 1698, 1714, 1715, 1737, 1747, 1753, 1755, 1761, 1820 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Richeson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Richeson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Richardson, Richerson, Richarson and others.

Early Notables of the Richeson family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Dame Elizabeth Richardson, 1st Lady Cramond (1576-1651), English writer whose peerage was created for her in 1628; Sir Thomas Richardson (1569-1635), Chief Justice of the King's Bench; Thomas Richardson, 2nd Lord Cramond (1627-1674), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1674. Christopher Richardson (1618-1698), was an English nonconformist divine who appears to have been born at Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire. Gabriel Richardson (died 1642), was...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Richeson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Richeson Ranking

In the United States, the name Richeson is the 14,780th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Ireland Migration of the Richeson family to Ireland

Some of the Richeson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 105 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Richeson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Richeson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ezekiel Richeson, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1630 5
  • Barnaby Richeson, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 5
  • John Richeson, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 5
  • Isaac Richeson, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 5
  • Mark Richeson, who landed in Maryland in 1653 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Richeson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jeremiah Richeson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 5

Canada Richeson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Richeson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Richeson (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Richeson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1948 7
  • Mary Johnson Richeson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1996, 2004 7
  • Joseph Richeson, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2004 7
  • Joe Richeson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Texas State Board of Education 5th District, 1996 7
  • Frank S. Richeson, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Virginia State Senate, 1950; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1952 7
  • Charles H. Richeson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1928 7


The Richeson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtute acquiritur honos
Motto Translation: Honour is aquired by virtue.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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