Show ContentsPersson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Persson Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Persson

What does the name Persson mean?

The name Persson 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 Persson family

The surname Persson 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 Persson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Persson 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 Persson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Persson Spelling Variations

The 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. Persson has been recorded under many different variations, including Pearson, Peerson, Pierson, Peirson and others.

Early Notables of the Persson family

Andrew Peerson or Pierson (d. 1594), an English divine, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He "graduated B.A. from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1540-1541 or 1542, and M.A. in 1544 or 1545. Soon after graduating B.A. he was elected fellow of his college; for a time he was bursar, and laid out and planted with fruit trees the fellows' garden." 8 Martin Peerson, Pierson or Pearson (1590-1651), was an English musical composer from March, Cambridgeshire. "He graduated Mus. Bac. from Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1613. Fulke Greville, first lord Brooke, was his earliest patron. In 1604 he wrote music for the...
Another 186 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Persson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Persson family to Ireland

Some of the Persson 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.

Persson 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. Perssons were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Persson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Lucas Persson, who arrived in Delaware in 1644 9
  • Pafvell Persson, who arrived in Delaware in 1655 9
Persson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anders Peter Persson, aged 22, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1848 9
  • Nils Persson, aged 29, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 9
  • Carl Persson, aged 17, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1850 9
  • Gustaf Persson, aged 19, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1850 9
  • Isaac Persson, aged 26, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1850 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Persson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Per Johan Persson, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1902 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Persson (post 1700) +

  • William Michael Dermot Persson (1927-2023), English prelate, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster (1982-1992)
  • Markus Alexej "Notch" Persson (b. 1979), Swedish video game programmer and designer best known for Mincraft
  • Per-Åke Tommy Persson (1946-2021), known by the stage name Peps Persson, a Swedish blues and reggae musician and social critic, recipient of an honorary award at the Grammis ceremony in 2007
  • Peder Persson (1938-2018), Swedish footballer
  • Karl Gunnar Persson (1943-2016), Scandinavian economic historian
  • Joakim Persson (b. 1975), former Swedish footballer and coach
  • Joachim Persson (b. 1983), Danish badminton player, currently the 3rd highest ranked singles player in Denmark
  • Jörgen Persson (b. 1966), Swedish sixteen-time gold medalist table tennis player
  • Hans Göran Persson (b. 1949), Swedish politician, Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Ernst Ulrik Persson, aged 25, Swedish Third Class passenger from Stockholm, Uppland who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 15 10
  • Else Persson, Swedish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873 died in the sinking
  • Gustav Persson, Swedish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
  • Hanna Persson, Swedish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Mr. Olaf Persson, Swedish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • ... (Another 7 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
  3. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  4. 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)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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.
  7. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  8. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  9. 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)
  10. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html

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