Parsons Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Parsons last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Parsons last name
Meaning of the Parsons last name: son or servant of the parson. Parsons was a name for the servant or son of a parson, the priest of a parish. A parson's son was usually born before his father took holy orders, while servants in the parson's household often took the name too. It is most common in the south and west of England, especially Somerset and Gloucestershire. A curious detail: the engineer Charles Parsons created the steam turbine, which still drives many power stations.
Arms associated with the Parsons name
A curious English detail: younger sons added small marks to their father's arms, so brothers named Parsons could each carry a slightly different shield.
Get your full Parsons family history
This is only a glimpse of the Parsons story. The full Parsons history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Parsons coat of arms. Get the full Parsons report.
Parsons name FAQ
What does the Parsons name mean?
Son or servant of the parson. Common variants include Parson, Pearson, Person.
Where does the Parsons surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Parsons coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Parsons coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.