Ormson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Ormson

What does the name Ormson mean?

The ultimate origins of this name appear to be Nordic, where Orme derives from the Old Norse word "Ormr," meaning "Serpent" or "Dragon." It is certainly not unlikely that the name came to Normandy with the Viking invasions of Rollo in 911, and then making its way to Britain with the Norman invasion of 1066. The name also existed in France, coming from the Old French "orme," which meant "an elm tree." It also likely that some of the instances of Ormson in Britain were as a result of Danish, and Swedish contact along the Eastern shores of England and Scotland.

Early Origins of the Ormson family

The surname Ormson was first found in Yorkshire where Orm was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1In Lancashire, the Pipe Rolls of 1169 list Orm de Hedoc. 2 Here, the family claim descent from the parish of Ormskirk. "Ormskirk is not found in the Domesday survey; but, according to very credible tradition, the parish belonged to Orm, the Saxon proprietor of Halton, who, driven from his possessions in Cheshire, established himself in Lancashire, and, by his marriage with Alice, daughter of Herveus, a Norman nobleman, ancestor of Theobald Walter, obtained large estates in this county. He was the founder, no doubt, of the church; the word kirk, with his own name, constituting the name of the parish." 3

Later in Derbyshire, Orum was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1175 and later again, John Orm was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. In Suffolk, Augustin Orumme was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for Alice filius Orme, Cambridgeshire and William Orm, Nottinghamshire. 4 the Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. listed Orme de Neville, Lincolnshire, 20 Edward I and Ormus Archebrgge, Westmorland.

Early History of the Ormson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ormson research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1153, 1620, 1654, 1660 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Ormson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ormson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Orme, Orm and others.

Early Notables of the Ormson family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ormson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ormson family to Ireland

Some of the Ormson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ormson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ormson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jane Ormson, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1849 5
Thomas Ormson, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1873 5

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
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)