Show ContentsImison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Imison are from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name 'Emma.'' The surname Imison referred to the 'son of Emma' which belongs to the category of metronymic surnames. 1

Early Origins of the Imison family

The surname Imison was first found in London where the first record is the marriage record of William Kelsea and Isabell Imme, who married at St. Dionis Backchurch in 1574. 2

Early History of the Imison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Imison research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1574, 1768, 1783, 1785, 1788 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Imison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Imison Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Imison family name include Im, Imm, Imme, Imms, Immes, Immson, Imson, Immeson, Imeson, Immison, Imison and many more.

Early Notables of the Imison family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Imison (d. 1788), English mechanic and printer who was in business at Manchester in 1783-1785 as a clock and watch maker and optician, and also as a printer3...


New Zealand Imison 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:

Imison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Imison, aged 32, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
  • Sarah Imison, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
  • Sarah M. Imison, aged 9, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
  • Elizabeth Imison, aged 1, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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