Hearsum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Hearsum

The origins of the Hearsum surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Hearsum began when someone in that family worked as a guardian of cattle or sheep. The surname Hearsum is derived from the Old English word hierde, which means herd, and the patronymic suffix -son. Thus, the name Hearsum literally means "son of the herdsman." 1

Early Origins of the Hearsum family

Early History of the Hearsum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hearsum research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1597, 1621, 1649, 1651, 1660 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Hearsum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hearsum Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hearsum has appeared include Herdson, Hirdson, Heardson, Hurdson, Herson and others.

Early Notables of the Hearsum family

Henry Herdson (fl. 1651), English writer on mnemonics, probably received part of his education at Cambridge, as he terms that university his 'dearest mother.' He styled himself professor of the art of memory by public authority in the University of Cambridge. Afterwards he taught his art in London at the Green Dragon, against St. Antholin's Church...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hearsum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hearsum family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hearsum arrived in North America very early: Sarah Herson, who sailed to New York in 1820.