Ussher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Ussher surname is an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hOisín or "descendant of Oisín," a personal name derived from the word "os," meaning "deer." Others suggest that the name came from Oisín, a poet and warrior of the fianna in Irish mythology.

Early Origins of the Ussher family

The surname Ussher was first found in Connacht, where the name has long been found. The name Ó hOisín occurred in all the Irish provinces save Ulster in 11th and 12th century Annals. Hugh O'Hession was the first Archbishop of Tuam, Co. Galway (1152-1161). The family is primarily associated with North and East Galway and South Mayo. Some Anglicized their name to Usher, thus confusing it with the more common Ushers of Norman descent. The Hishon form of this name was found in County Tipperary. 1

Early History of the Ussher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ussher research. The years 1307, 1529, 1550, 1581, 1590, 1613, 1619, 1656, 1682, 1693, 1703, 1741, 1749, 1868 and 1908 are included under the topic Early Ussher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ussher Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: O'Hession, Hession, Hussian, Hishon, O Hoisin and many more.

Early Notables of the Ussher family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

John Ussher, a constable of Dublin castle in 1307, but who died later in England...
Henry Ussher (c. 1550-1613) was an Irish Protestant churchman, a founder of Trinity College, Dublin...
Reverend James Ussher (1581-1656) was the Archbishop of Armagh, a churchman and a scholar...
He is best known for his Ussher chronology, a chronology of the history of the world formulated from a literal reading of the Bible...
John Ussher (1529-1590), Mayor of Dublin, is said to have been responsible for the first book published in the Irish Language...
John Ussher (c. 1682-1741) was an Irish soldier and Member of Parliament and so was his nephew John Ussher (1703-1749) and Beverley Ussher (1868-1908) Australian-born architect...

Ussher migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ussher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Marg Ussher, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States from Melbourne, in 1904
Neville Boileau Ussher, aged 32, who landed in America from Lurgan, Ireland, in 1909
Jennie Ussher, aged 31, who landed in America from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1909
Arnold Ussher, aged 29, who landed in America from Emmeskellin, Ireland, in 1910
Edith Ussher, aged 54, who landed in America from Oakham, England, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ussher migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ussher Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Margaret Ussher, aged 36, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1909
Charles Essex Edgeworth Ussher, aged 64, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Ussher (post 1700) +

Elizabeth Freeman Barrows Ussher (1873-1915), American Christian missionary, wife of Clarence Ussher
Clarence Douglas Ussher (1870-1955), American physician and missionary during the Armenian Genocide
Henry Ussher (d. 1790), Irish astronomer, a direct descendant of Arland Ussher, Mayor of Dublin (1469-1471), the fourth son of Samuel Ussher, rector of Dunganstown, co. Wicklow
Richard John Ussher (1841-1913), Irish ornithologist
Jane Ussher MNZM (b. 1953), New Zealand portrait photographer, best known as the chief photographer of the New Zealand Listener for over 25 years
Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Thomas Ussher KCH CB (1779-1848), Irish-born, officer of the British Royal Navy; he conveyed Napoleon Bonaparte into exile in Elba
Beverley Ussher (1868-1908), Australian architect, partner to Henry Kemp
John "Johnny" Ussher (1830-1879), Canadian frontiersman and Gold Commissioner in the Thompson Country, British Columbia
Katharine "Kitty" Anne Ussher (b. 1971), British economist and politician, Labour Member of Parliament, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in 2009
Herbert Taylor Ussher, Governor of Tobago 1872-1875

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)