Parsons History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The history of the name Parsons dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who 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 Parsons family

The surname Parsons 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 Parsons family

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

Parsons Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Parsons has undergone many spelling variations, including Parsons, Parson and others.

Early Notables of the Parsons family

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

Parsons World Ranking

In the United States, the name Parsons is the 439th most popular surname with an estimated 64,662 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Parsons is ranked the 228th most popular surname with an estimated 17,570 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Parsons is the 2nd popular surname with an estimated 1,807 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Parsons as 217th with 15,364 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Parsons as 249th with 2,409 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Parsons as 174th with 31,325 people. 10

Migration of the Parsons family to Ireland

Some of the Parsons 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.


Parsons migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Parsons were among those contributors:

Parsons Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Parsons Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Parsons Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Parsons Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Parsons migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Parsons Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Parsons Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Parsons migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Parsons Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Parsons 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:

Parsons Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Parsons migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21
Parsons Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Parsons (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Parsons +
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