| ![Show Contents]() Presson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Presson reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Presson family lived Lincolnshire, at Preston, from where they derived their name. The name Preston comes from the Old English words preost, meaning priest, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement. 1 "Thirty-five parishes and places are named [Preston] in the Gazetteer, and there are many others in various counties. The origin of the name, from preostes-tun. 'the priest's enclosure or homestead ' is undoubted." 2 Early Origins of the Presson familyThe surname Presson was first found in Lincolnshire, where Laurence de Preston was one of the first records of the name. Peter de Prestun was listed as a Knights Templar in Yorkshire in 1185. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list Alice de Preston in Northamptonshire. Years later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Pryston and Isabella de Preston. 4 The Scottish branch of the family was established long ago and in this case, the family claim descent from "the barony of Preston or Prestoun, afterwards known as Gourtoun and now Craigmillar in Midlothian. Alured de Preston appears as a charter witness in 1222, and Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, c. 1240-50, had a charter from John Albus of a piece of land in Linlithgow which lie made over to the Abbey of Neubotel. Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg in 1248. Alured de Preston appears as a charter witness in 1222, and Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, c. 1240-50, had a charter from John Albus of a piece of land in Linlithgow which lie made over to the Abbey of Neubotel. Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg in 1248." 5 "Beeston Hall, a Gothic mansion in a small park [in Beeston, Norfolk], has long been the residence of the Prestons, one of whom, Jacob Preston, received an emerald ring, still preserved in the family, from Charles I. when upon the scaffold, as a last tribute of affection." 6 This latter source also notes that some of the family were found in the hamlet of Meerbeck in the West Riding of Yorkshire: "Here is the seat of John Preston, Esq., whose family have been settled in this part of the West riding for more than four centuries." 6 Gilbert de Preston (died 1274) was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, son of Walter de Preston (d. 1230), or Walter Fitz Winemar, who was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1207 and 1208. 7 Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston (died 1396) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman, statesman and judge of the fourteenth century. For a brief period, he was Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was the founder of the leading Anglo-Irish Preston family whose titles included Viscount Gormanston and Viscount Tara. He was the son of Roger de Preston (died 1346) who was the son of Adam de Preston, a wealthy merchant from Preston, Lancashire. Early History of the Presson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Presson research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1207, 1208, 1212, 1227, 1228, 1230, 1274, 1291, 1332, 1362, 1366, 1372, 1382, 1415, 1421, 1453, 1503, 1538, 1570, 1581, 1582, 1584, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1595, 1596, 1597, 1601, 1603, 1609, 1616, 1617, 1619, 1628, 1637, 1655, 1659, 1688, 1706, 1715, 1720, 1745, 1748, 1753, 1807, 1826, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Presson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Presson Spelling VariationsBefore the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Presson family name include Prestone, Preston, Presson and others. Early Notables of the Presson familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John de Prestone, Lord Mayor of London in 1332; Sir Amyas Preston of Somerset (died 1617), English naval commander; Robert Preston, British MP for Westmorland in 1421; Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston (1453-1503), Irish politician; and Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara (1585-1655), an Irish soldier of the 17th century.Sir John Preston (fl 1415), was an English judge member of an ancient Westmorland family seated at Preston Richard and Preston Patrick in the southern part of the county.Sir Simon Preston (fl. 1538-1570), of Preston and Craigmillar, provost of Edinburgh in the time of Mary...
Another 130 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Presson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Presson RankingIn the United States, the name Presson is the 16,398th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8  Migration of the Presson family to Ireland
Some of the Presson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Presson migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Presson family to immigrate North America:
Presson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Anne Presson, who landed in Virginia in 1705 9
- Francois Presson, who arrived in Louisiana in 1718-1724 9
- Johann Presson, who landed in America in 1783 9
| Presson migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Presson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
| Contemporary Notables of the name Presson (post 1700) | + |
- Jason Presson (b. 1971), American Young Artist Award nominated actor, known for his work in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Explorers (1985), Lady in White (1988) and The Stone Boy (1984
- Priscilla Lee Presson (b. 1980), American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer
- William A. Presson, American politician, Member of Nebraska State Senate, 1867 11
- Ira Presson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1948 11
- Ed Presson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Mexico, 1972 11
| Historic Events for the Presson family | + |
USS Arizona - Mr. Wayne Harold Presson, American Seaman First Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 12
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: Si Dieu Veult
Motto Translation: If God wills it.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- 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)
- 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.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "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)
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
|
Presson migration to the United States 
Presson migration to Australia 
England
Ireland
