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Wesson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Wesson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Wesson is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Wesson family lived in Staffordshire, at Weston-under-Lizard. The name literally means "dweller at the west farm," or "one who lived to the west of the village." 1

"The English gazetteers give about fifty parishes and hamlets of this name, which signifies simply ' the western enclosure,' and corresponds with Easton, Norton, and Sutton. From divers of these, some of the families of Weston have sprung; but the widely-spread Westons of Surrey and Sussex are descended from the house of De Wistoneston, or Wiston, of Wiston, co. Sussex." 2

Early Origins of the Wesson family

The surname Wesson was first found in Staffordshire where they held a family seat at Weston-under-Lizard, having been granted lands as a tenant in chief by William the Conqueror. Reginald Bailleul was from Bailleul-En-Gouffern at Orne, arrondisement of Argentan, in the canton of Trun, in Normandy. 3

The parish of Kelvedon in Essex was once a family seat. "Felix Hall, the seat of Lord Western, a handsome modern mansion with an elegant portico, is situated on an eminence surrounded by a park." 4

The Domesday Book of 1086 had two early entries for the family: Godwinus de Westuna in Huntingdonshire; and Adestan de Westuna in Cambridgeshire. 5

Early rolls revealed the various spellings used throughout ancient Britain: Elyas de Westone in Lincolnshire c. 1160; Payn de Weston in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1268; William Weston in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296; and Alan ate Weston in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 1

In Scotland, "there are places named Weston and Westoun in Lanarkshire, and a Weston near Dolphinston, Peeblesshire. William de Westone of Wyggetone rendered homage in 1296. John of Westone was juror on an inquisition at Peebles, 1304, and John de Westone held a ten-pound land in the tenement of Mertone near Edinburgh before 1315. William of Westone was in the king of England's service in France, 1369." 6

Early History of the Wesson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wesson research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1200, 1466, 1511, 1515, 1536, 1540, 1542, 1566, 1567, 1573, 1577, 1582, 1605, 1609, 1611, 1612, 1620, 1628, 1634, 1635, 1639, 1640, 1652, 1656, 1660, 1663, 1665, 1678, 1681, 1688, 1689, 1698 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Wesson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wesson Spelling Variations

Before 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 Wesson family name include Weston, Atgate and others.

Early Notables of the Wesson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Weston, a 15th-century English merchant from Bristol who is believed to have been the first Englishman to lead an expedition to North AmericaSir Francis Weston (1511?-1536), was an English courtier, born about 1515, and the only son of Sir Richard Weston (1466?-1542.) Sir Francis was charged with high treason and adultery with the Queen Anne Boleyn.His father, Sir Richard was an English courtier and diplomatist, son of Edmund Weston, an adherent of Henry VII. Sir William Weston (d. 1540) was his brother. 7Edward Weston (1566-1635), was a Roman Catholic controversialist, son of...
Another 167 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wesson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wesson Ranking

In the United States, the name Wesson is the 5,139^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Wesson family to Ireland

Some of the Wesson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wesson 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 Wesson family to immigrate North America:

Wesson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Eliza Wesson, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 9
Mary Wesson, who landed in Virginia in 1650 9
Thomas Wesson, who arrived in Maryland in 1667 9

Wesson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Wesson, who landed in Virginia in 1723 9

Wesson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anna Wesson, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, in 1892
Fredk. Wesson, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1892
James E. Wesson, aged 41, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, in 1892
Eme. Wesson, aged 9, who settled in America from W. Chester, in 1893
Clara Wesson, aged 17, who immigrated to America from W. Chester, in 1893
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wesson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alfred Wesson, aged 32, who settled in America from Dublin, in 1902
Henry Thomas Wesson, aged 44, who landed in America from Staffordshire, in 1904
Grace H. Wesson, aged 41, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1904
Albert Wesson, aged 11, who immigrated to the United States from Old Mill, England, in 1906
Harold Wesson, aged 29, who landed in America, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Wesson (post 1700) +

Jessica Wesson (b. 1982), American Young Artist Award nominated actress
Barry Jarvis Wesson (b. 1977), American former Major League Baseball right-handed outfielder
Amy Wesson (b. 1977), American fashion model
Richard Lewis "Dick" Wesson (1919-1996), American Primetime Emmy Award nominated character actor, comedian, comedy writer, and producer
Daniel B. Wesson II (1916-1978), American inventor and firearms maker, great-grandson of Daniel B., founder of Dan Wesson Firearms
Warren M. Wesson, American World War II fighter ace
Dick Wesson (1919-1979), American actor and announcer for The Wonderful World of Disney
Daniel Baird Wesson (1825-1906), American gunsmith and co-founder of Smith and Wesson Inc in 1852
Edward Wesson (1910-1983), English watercolour artist
Herb Wesson (b. 1951), American politician, former Speaker of the California State Assembly and Los Angeles City Councilman (2005-)
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)
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)