| ![Show Contents]() Person History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of PersonWhat does the name Person mean? The name Person reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is based on the French given name Pierre, which is equivalent to the English Peter as in son of Peter or Pierre.1 2 3 Early Origins of the Person familyThe surname Person was first found in Berwickshire where the name was derived as "son of Pier." Walter Pierson of Berwickshire rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. 4 However, some of the family were found at early times in Lancashire, specifically at the township of Shevington where "Crook Hall was the seat of the Pearsons." 5 In Somerset, early rolls there listed Walter Peressone and Richard Peresone, both 1 Edward III, (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6 In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls from 1379 included: Robertus Perisson. 7 Early History of the Person familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Person research. Another 213 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1369, 1472, 1506, 1529, 1537, 1540, 1541, 1542, 1544, 1545, 1567, 1587, 1590, 1592, 1594, 1604, 1612, 1613, 1628, 1634, 1642, 1647, 1648, 1650, 1651, 1657, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1670, 1677, 1686, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Person History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Person Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Person has been recorded under many different variations, including Pearson, Peerson, Pierson, Peirson and others. Early Notables of the Person family- John Pearson (1613-1686), Bishop of Chester, was born at Great Snoring in Norfolk on 28 Feb. 1612-13, and was baptised on 12 March. His father, Robert Pearson, Person, or Pierson, a native of Whinfell...
Person Rankingthe United States, the name Person is the 1,680th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 8 However, in France, the name Person is ranked the 1,493rd most popular surname with an estimated 3,914 people with that name. 9 Migration of the Person family to IrelandSome of the Person family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Person migration to the United States | + |
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Persons were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:
Person Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Kath Person, who landed in Virginia in 1636 10
- Ralph Person, who landed in Virginia in 1637 10
- Thomas Person, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 10
- Bartholomew Person, who arrived in New England in 1640 10
- John Person, who arrived in Virginia in 1648 10
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Person Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Robert Person, who landed in Virginia in 1711 10
- Philip Person, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 10
Person Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Henry Person, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 10
- Johannes Person, aged 24, who landed in New York, NY in 1869 10
- Erik Person, aged 35, who arrived in New York, NY in 1869 10
- Gertrude Person, aged 11, who landed in New York, NY in 1869 10
- Kristina Person, aged 61, who arrived in New York, NY in 1869 10
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Person Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Carl Oscar Person, who landed in California in 1903 10
| Person migration to Canada | + |
Person Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Constantine Person, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1898
| Contemporary Notables of the name Person (post 1700) | + |
- Charles Person (1942-2025), African-American civil rights activist
- Waverly J. Person (1926-2022), American seismologist, awarded both the Good Conduct Medal and Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal, in the early 1970s Person helped to established the National Earthquake Information Center
- Curtis S. Person Jr. (1934-2020), American politician and a member of the Tennessee Senate (1968-2006)
- Earl Old Person (b. 1929), also named Cold Wind or Charging Home, an American Indian political leader and the chief of the Blackfoot tribe in Montana
- Wesley Lavon Person (b. 1971), retired American professional NBA basketball player
- Dr. Ruth J. Person, American academic, the first woman and 7th Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint (2008-2014)
- Robert Alan Person (b. 1969), American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1995 to 2003
- Chuck Connors Person (b. 1964), American basketball coach and former player
- Marina Person (b. 1969), Brazilian actress, filmmaker and former MTV VJ
- ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Suggested Readings for the name Person | + |
- 10 Years of Pearsons: The Descendants of John and Johanna Pearson who Emigrated from Sweden to America in April, 1889 by Frederick John Pearson.
- Personotes by Dorothy Woolridge Person.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- 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)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- 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.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
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