Parsonage History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The many generations and branches of the Parsonage family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a person who worked as the parson or clergyman. This individual probably lived or worked at the parsonage. 1

Early Origins of the Parsonage family

The surname Parsonage 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 Parsonage family

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

Parsonage Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Parsonage were recorded, including Parsons, Parson and others.

Early Notables of the Parsonage family

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

Migration of the Parsonage family to Ireland

Some of the Parsonage 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.

Parsonage migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Parsonage family emigrate to North America:

Parsonage Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Parsonage, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1862 5

Parsonage 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:

Parsonage Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Parsonage, aged 38, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Caroline Parsonage, aged 37, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Louisa Parsonage, aged 11, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
George Parsonage, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Howard Parsonage, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Parsonage family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Parsonage, British Stoker 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 6

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.
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)
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html