Contents [hide]

Parson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Parson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Parson surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Parson began when someone in that family 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 Parson family

The surname Parson 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 Parson family

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

Parson 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 Parson has appeared include Parsons, Parson and others.

Early Notables of the Parson family

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

Parson Ranking

In the United States, the name Parson is the 1,857^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Parson family to Ireland

Some of the Parson 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.

Parson migration to the United States +

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 Parson arrived in North America very early:

Parson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Samuell Parson, who landed in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 6
Mr. Thomas Parson, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 7
Mr. Jo. Parson, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 7
John Parson, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 6
Hans Parson, who landed in Delaware in 1649 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jasper Parson, who landed in New York in 1796 6

Parson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Parson, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 6
Thomas Parson, aged 43, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 6
Lewis Parson, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 6
Ludwig Parson, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 6

Parson migration to Australia +

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

Parson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Parson, (b. 1829), aged 21, English labourer, from Derby travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 8
Timothy Parson, aged 37, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "China" 9
James Parson, aged 33, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Macedon" 10
Margaret Parson, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "William Hammond" 11
Mr. John Parson, (b. 1834), aged 20, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 27th February 1854 aboard the ship "Parsee" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9th June 1854 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parson 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:

Parson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Parson, (b. 1859), aged 1 month, English settler from Nottingham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
Mr. Henry Parson, (b. 1833), aged 26, English carpenter from Nottingham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
Mrs. Martha Parson, (b. 1833), aged 26, English settler from Nottingham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
Mr. Arthur Parson, (b. 1857), aged 2, English settler from Nottingham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
Mr. William Parson, (b. 1850), aged 33, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Westland" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand in 1883 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Parson (post 1700) +

James Joseph "Jim" Parson (b. 1973), American television and film actor
Gram Parson (1946-1973), American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist
Talcott Parson (1902-1979), American sociologist
Mosby Monroe Parson (1822-1865), United States officer in the Mexican-American War
Alfred Lauck Parson (1889-1970), British chemist and physicist who developed the "magneton theory" of the atom
Alan Parson (b. 1948), British audio engineer, musician, and record producer
Anja Sofia Tess Parson (b. 1981), Swedish Sámi alpine skier

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Argus News Paper 27th January 1852 Page 2 (Retrieved 26th April 2019). Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4775844?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FA%2Ftitle%2F13%2F1851%2F01%2F27%2Fpage%2F505154%2Farticle%2F4775844
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/china1852.shtml
South Australian Register Tuesday 11 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MACEDON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/macedon1853.shtml
South Australian Register Wednesday 20th January 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Willaim Hammond 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamhammond1854.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html