| ![Show Contents]() Letson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Letson has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in West Yorkshire at Lerdsham, a parish, in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash. 1 2 This parish appears in the Domesday Book as Ledesham 3 and literally meant "homestead within the district of Leeds." 4 Early Origins of the Letson familyThe surname Letson was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Ledsham near Pontefrac. The earliest record was Ned de Ledesham who was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. 5 Ledsham in Cheshire is another possible origin point for the family. This township in the parish of Neston, union, and Higher division of the hundred of Wirrall also dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was "written [as] Levetsham, and the lands are therein stated to have been held by Walter de Vernon." 1 Later in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, Robertus de Ledesam and Johannes de Ledsam were listed as holding lands there at that time. The Register of the University of Oxford includes an entry for Henry Ledsham in 1570. 2 Early History of the Letson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Letson research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1540, 1582, 1602, 1603, 1775 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Letson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Letson Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Letson have been found, including Ledsham, Leadsham, Leadsom, Leadson, Ledsum, Ledsam, Ledsem, Ledson, Leadson, lettsom, Letsom and many more. Early Notables of the Letson familyMore information is included under the topic Early Letson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Letson RankingIn the United States, the name Letson is the 11,031st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6  Migration of the Letson family to Ireland
Some of the Letson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Letson migration to the United States | + |
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Letson, or a variant listed above:
Letson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mrs. Letson, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1855 7
| Contemporary Notables of the name Letson (post 1700) | + |
- Al Letson, American poet, playwright, performer
- Tom Letson (b. 1952), American Democratic member of the Ohio House
- Thomas Letson (1840-1925), Canadian Ontario farmer, manufacturer and political figure
- Major-General Harry Farnham Germaine Letson (1896-1992), Military Advisor to the Government (1954-1958) 8
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: Fac at spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "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)
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, September 27) Harry Letson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Letson/Harry_Farnham_Germaine/Canada.html
|
Letson migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
