Pearston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Pearston was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. Pearston is based on the French given name Pierre, which is equivalent to the English Peter as in son of Peter or Pierre.1 2 3

Early Origins of the Pearston family

The surname Pearston was first found in Berwickshire where the name was derived as "son of Pier." Walter Pierson of Berwickshire rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. 4 However, some of the family were found at early times in Lancashire, specifically at the township of Shevington where "Crook Hall was the seat of the Pearsons." 5

In Somerset, early rolls there listed Walter Peressone and Richard Peresone, both 1 Edward III, (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6

In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls from 1379 included: Robertus Perisson. 7

Early History of the Pearston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pearston research. Another 213 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1369, 1472, 1506, 1529, 1537, 1540, 1541, 1542, 1544, 1545, 1567, 1587, 1590, 1592, 1594, 1604, 1612, 1613, 1628, 1634, 1642, 1647, 1648, 1650, 1651, 1657, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1670, 1677, 1686, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Pearston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pearston Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Pearston were recorded, including Pearson, Peerson, Pierson, Peirson and others.

Early Notables of the Pearston family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Andrew Peerson or Pierson (d. 1594), an English divine, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He "graduated B.A. from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1540-1541 or 1542, and M.A. in 1544 or 1545. Soon after graduating B.A. he was elected fellow of his college; for a time he was bursar, and laid out and planted with fruit trees the fellows' garden." 8Martin Peerson, Pierson or Pearson (1590-1651), was an English musical composer from March, Cambridgeshire. "He graduated Mus. Bac. from Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1613. Fulke Greville, first lord Brooke, was his earliest...
Another 186 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pearston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pearston family to Ireland

Some of the Pearston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 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 Pearston family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Pearston arrived in North America very early: John Pearson, who settled with his wife and two children in Barbados in 1678; Mary Pearson settled in Virginia in 1646; Nicholas Pearson settled in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1774.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print