Kerrison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Kerrison reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Kerrison family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Kerrison is based on the baptismal name Garrison, which means Gerard. That name was originally derived from the Old German Gerhard, which literally means spear-brave. 1

Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames.

Early Origins of the Kerrison family

The surname Kerrison was first found in the North Riding of Yorkshire where the family originated in Garriston, a small township, in the parish of Haukswell, union of Leyburn, wapentake of Hang-West. 2 3

Early History of the Kerrison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kerrison research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1066 and 1613 are included under the topic Early Kerrison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerrison Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Kerrison are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Kerrison include Gear, Gayre, Gyre, Garrison, McGair, Kerrison and many more.

Early Notables of the Kerrison family

More information is included under the topic Early Kerrison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kerrison migration to Australia +

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

Kerrison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Kerrison, (b. 1808), aged 23, British Fisherman who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 7 years for stealing calico, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831