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Parsons: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac an PhearsĂșin, Mac an Phearsain · 'son of the parson' (Irish 'pearsĂșn', Latin 'persona')

Woulfe (1923) lists Parsons among the anglicised forms of Mac an PhearsĂșin, Mac an Phearsain, 'son of the parson', which he calls a scattered surname. He says many of the name in Ireland are, no doubt, descended from the Highland clan Mac an Phearsain. Webb (1878) separately describes Sir William Parsons, who settled in Ireland in Elizabeth's reign.

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Coat of arms associated with the Parsons surname
Irish formMac an PhearsĂșin, Mac an Phearsain
Meaning'son of the parson' (Irish 'pearsĂșn', Latin 'persona')
Other spellings5

Origin of the Parsons name

Woulfe: 'a scattered surname. Many of the name in Ireland are, no doubt, descended from the famous Highland clan, Mac an Phearsain.' Webb separately: Sir William Parsons 'settled in Ireland in Elizabeth's reign'.[1][3]

  1. Elizabeth's reignWebb: Sir William Parsons settled in Ireland, became Commissioner of Plantations and obtained large Crown land grants.[3]
  2. 1643Webb: Sir William Parsons, Lord-Justice with Sir John Borlace, was removed.[3]
  3. 1758Webb: Sir Lawrence Parsons, later 2nd Earl of Rosse, was born on 21 May.[3]
  4. 1800Webb: William Parsons, later 3rd Earl of Rosse and astronomer, was born at York on 17 June.[4]
  5. 1890Matheson: 12 Parsons birth entries in Ireland (Leinster 3, Munster 1, Ulster 1, Connaught 7).[2]

Notable people named Parsons

Sir Lawrence Parsonsb. 1758Webb: 2nd Earl of Rosse; represented the University of Dublin, then the King's County, in the Irish Parliament; spoke against the Union.[3]
William Parsonsb. 1800Webb: 3rd Earl of Rosse, astronomer; built a telescope with a three-foot speculum, then one of double that diameter.[4]

Other spellings

MacPherson · MacPharson · MacFarson · MacFerson · Pherson[1]

Scottish connection

Under Mac an PhearsĂșin, whose English forms he lists as MacPharson, MacPherson, MacFarson, MacFerson, Pherson and Parsons, Woulfe writes: 'Many of the name in Ireland are, no doubt, descended from the famous Highland clan, Mac an Phearsain.'[1]

The Parsons coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Parsons surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Parsons crest gifts

Clan Parsons Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapZS19 Classic Cap - Parsons Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Parsons Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

Parsons surname: questions

What does the surname Parsons mean?

Woulfe lists Parsons as a form of Mac an PhearsĂșin, Mac an Phearsain, 'son of the parson' (Irish 'pearsĂșn', Latin 'persona').[1]

Is Parsons an Irish or a Scottish name?

Woulfe lists Parsons as one English form of Mac an PhearsĂșin, Mac an Phearsain, which he calls a scattered surname, and says many of that name in Ireland are, no doubt, descended from the famous Highland clan Mac an Phearsain. Webb separately records Sir William Parsons, who settled in Ireland in Elizabeth's reign; no source here links that family to Mac an PhearsĂșin.[1][3]

Is Parsons the same name as MacPherson?

Woulfe prints MacPherson, MacPharson, MacFarson, MacFerson, Pherson and Parsons together as forms of Mac an PhearsĂșin.[1]

Sources

  1. Mac an PhearsĂșin, Mac an Phearsain — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-an-phearsuin-mac-an-phearsain.php
  2. Parsons — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/parsons.php
  3. Parsons, Sir Lawrence — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirLawrenceParsons.php
  4. Parsons, William — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/WilliamParsons.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).