Parsan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient name of Parsan finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a person who worked as the parson or clergyman. This individual probably lived or worked at the parsonage. 1

Early Origins of the Parsan family

The surname Parsan was first found in Norfolk where Clemens filius Persone was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 2 Over in Somerset, William Parson and Isabel Parsones were both listed in Kirby's Quest as living 1 Edward III (in the first year of Edward III's reign.) 3

Roger le Persones was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1323 and Alicia le Parsones was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in 1327. 1

"A striking example of a purely south of England name, not to be found in my list north of a line drawn west from The Wash. It is represented in most of the southern counties, but its great home is in Wilts, whilst it is also numerous in most of the counties around this centre, namely, in Somerset, Dorset, Hants, Oxfordshire, and Monmouthshire." 4 True to the quote, only one entry was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Johannes Parsonson. 2

Early History of the Parsan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parsan research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1704 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Parsan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parsan Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Parsan family name include Parsons, Parson and others.

Early Notables of the Parsan family

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

Migration of the Parsan family to Ireland

Some of the Parsan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Parsan family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Parsan surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Christopher Parsons settled in Virginia in 1663; along with Edward 1639; Elizabeth 1677; George 1747; Giles 1654; Grace 1651; Henry 1643; James 1635; John 1619.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.