"The name Pearson is believed to be of Danish or Norman origin. Tradition has it that the Pearsons were once members of the Viking race, and upon leaving Scandinavia, went both to England and France, especially Normandy. In England the first of the sea-roving Vikings bearing our name resided in Northumberland, a county of northern England between the Humber and the Fifth of Forth, before 1200 A.D. Our own clan seems to have settled in Wilmslow, Mobberley and other surrounding hamlets in County Chester in the west central section of England. Chester was the termination point of the old Norman Conquest Road, and it is thought by some historians that some of the Pearsons came to England via the Norman Conquest of 1066 A.D.

The name of Pearson evidently evolved through several spellings. First we had Edward Peersonne, and then his son, Lawrence Peirson, and the spelling used by their descendants today of Pearson. Sonne is the Old English spelling of the word son, and Peer or Peir refers to Peter. Even though the spelling of the name has been changed from time to time down through the centuries, I believe we will all agree that the actual meaning of our surname is Peter's son. Lawrence's sons changed the spelling to Pearson upon their arrival in Pennsylvania from England. It is believed this was brought about because of the confusion of identity caused by four Thomas Peirsons settling in Pennsylvania about the same time."

Source: Douglas Hanke (Rootsweb) as quoted from the book "The Pearson Family Tree From England To America"

01. Edward Peeresone ^[1] was born about 1575 in Bollin Township, Wilmslow Parish, Cheshire, England.  His wife's name is unknown.  It is believed he was a thatcher. He died on July 25, 1648 in Wilmslow.

02. Lawrence Pearson, ^[1] son of Edward was born May 4, 1607 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England.  His first wife died around 1648 and shortly afterward he married Elizabeth whose last name may have been Janney but there is no primary or secondary sources listing her maiden name.  Also, the parentage of Elizabeth cannot be determined - click here for more details.  In 1650, Lawrence was imprisoned for testifying in the streets of Highfield, Derbyshire.  He died on February 24, 1673 in Chester Co., England. 

The 6 children of Lawrence (and presumably his 2nd wife Elizabeth) are:

1	Mary Pearson [1] (c1647 - ) - no children
2	Edward Pearson [1] (c1648/51 in Pownall Fee, Cheshire - 1697/1698 in Falls Mountain, PA) Married Sarah Burgess on Jul 6, 1670 in Pownall Fee    1. Deborah Pearson (Aug/Oct 25, 1675 in Pownall Fee - Dec 27, 1740 in Bucks, PA) [1] p. 28 [2]        Married Thomas Gilbert in 1708    2. Lawrence Pearson (Sep 2, 1677 in Pownall Fee - Bef. Mar 17, 1756 in Bucks, PA) [1] pp. 28, 35 [2]        Married Ann Cooper in Bucks, PA             1. Joseph Pearson (Oct 6, 1706 in Bucks, PA - Oct 30, 1801 in Bucks, PA) [1] p. 35                 Married Elizabeth Lewis (1705-1820) in 1728                      1. Lawrence Pearson (Dec 31, 1736 in Bucks, PA - 1803 in Bucks, PA)                          Married Elizabeth C. (1731-1795)                               1. Christian Pearson, Sr. (1755 in PA - May 18, 1819 in TN)                                   Married Catherine abt. 1774 - 11 children                                        1. Mary "Polly" Pearson (Apr 15, 1777 in PA - Jul 16, 1863 in TN)                                            Married Christian Shanks (1783-1858) in 1806                                                 1. Michael Shanks (Oct 23, 1801 in TN - Sep 18, 1871 in TN)                                                 2. John Shanks (Sep 3, 1809 in TN - May 10, 1893 in TN)                                                 3. Elizabeth Jane Shanks (1811 in TN - 1887 in TN)                                                 4. William Shanks (Sep 27, 1813 in TN - Jan 31, 1862 in TN)                                                 5. George Shanks (1815 in TN - Jun 1882 in TN)                                                 6. Catherine Shanks (May 12, 1816 in TN - Dec 25, 1877 in TN)                                                 7. Henry Shanks (Aug 8, 1820 in TN - Mar 13, 1871 in TN)                                        2. Christian Pearson, Jr. (1783 in PA - 1865 in TN)                                            Married Susanna Davis (1790-1867) in 1811 - 8 children                                                 1. Elizabeth Pearson (May 1, 1817 in TN - Feb 10, 1882 in TN)                                        3. Lawrence Pearson (1785 in PA - Feb 19, 1872 in TN)                                            Married Elizabeth Davault (1800-1884) in 1825 - at least 10 children                                                 1. Eliza Jane Pearson (Dec 13, 1823 - May 2, 1913)                                                 2. Pryor Lee Pearson (Oct 23, 1837 in TN - Nov 1, 1913 in TN)             2. Hannah Pearson (Abt. 1707 in Bucks, PA - 1760 in Bucks, PA) [1] [2] p. 35                 Married Ephraim Fenton (1710-1748)                      1. Mary Fenton (Abt. 1728 in PA - Aug 13, 1790 in PA) [1]                          Married James Shaw, Jr. - 7 children             3. Martha Pearson [1] [2] p. 35                 Married John Shrigley (1712-1844) - 2 children             4. Mary Pearson [1] [2] p. 35                 Married Mr. Jewell             5. Priscilla Pearson [1] [2] p. 35                 Married Samuel McKinstry    3. Sarah Pearson (Aug 27, 1680 in Pownall Fee - May 27, 1731 in Bucks, PA) [1] pp. 28, 36 [2]        Married John Bye             1. Elizabeth Bye (1705/6-) [1] p. 36                 Married (1) John Verity (2) George Mitchell             2. Sarah Bye (Jan 27, 1707/8 - ) [1] p. 36                 Married Thomas Ruckman in 1746             3. Deborah Bye (Mar 30, 1709 in Bucks, PA - Abt. 1780 in Wyalusing PA) [1] p. 36 [2]                 Married Jonathan Ingham in 1735 - 6 children                      1. Jonas Ingham, Sr. [1] (Abt. 1740 in Bucks, PA - Oct 28, 1820 in Wyalusing, PA)                          Married (1) Molly Robinson (2) Elizabeth Beaumont             4. John Bye (Feb 6, 1710/11 - 1731) [1] p. 36             5. Samuel Bye (1713/14 - 1731) [1] p. 36             6. Mary Bye (Sep 19, 1715 - ) [1] p. 36                 Married Thomas George in Apr 1739/40             7. Hezekiah Bye (Nov 17, 1717 in Bucks, PA - Sep 13, 1790 in Bucks, PA) [1] p. 36 [2]                 Married Mary Ingham on Mar 11, 1743 in Bucks, PA             8. Martha Bye (1720/1721 - ) [1] p. 36                 Married Jacob Dean             9. Enoch Bye (-) [1] p. 36    4. Rev. Enoch Pearson, Sr. (Mar 27, 1683 in Pownall Fee - Mar 3, 1758 in Buckingham, PA) [1] p. 28 [2]        Married Margaret Smith Croasdale on Nov 6, 1712 in Bucks, PA             1. William Pearson (Oct 9, 1713 - 1783) [1] p. 37                 Married Elizabeth Dure             2. Thomas Pearson (Feb 9, 1714/15 - Apr 6, 1719) [1] p. 37             3. Mary Pearson (Jan 26, 1716/17 - ) [1] p. 37                 Married John Hulme             4. Enoch Pearson II (May 25, 1718 in Bucks, PA - 1780 in Sedalia, SC) [1] p. 37                 Married Tabitha Jacocks (1734-1811) in 1750 - at least 4 children             5. Thomas Pearson (May 25, 1718 - Feb 14, 1718/20) [1] p. 37             6. Sarah Pearson (Apr 9, 1720 - ) [1] p. 37                 Married James Feller/Peller             7. Phebe Pearson (Dec 5, 1721 in Bucks, PA - 1777) [1] p. 37             8. Margaret Pearson (Jul 6, 1723 in Bucks, PA - ) [1] p. 37                 Married Stephen Betts             9. Rachel Pearson (Sep 14, 1724 in Bucks, PA - ) [1] p. 37                 Married Mr. Dumbrow           10. Elizabeth Pearson (Feb 8, 1726/7 in Bucks, PA - by 1799 in SC) [1] p. 37                 Married John Townsend           11. John Pearson (Jun 27, 1728 in Bucks, PA -  Aft 1790 in SC) [1] p. 37                 Married Sarah Hall           12. Samuel Pearson (May 2, 1730 in Bucks, PA - in TN) [1] p. 37    5. Phebe Pearson (Apr 22, 1685 in Pownall Fee - Abt. Aug 5, 1686 in Pownall Fee, Cheshire) [1] p. 28 [2]    6. Martha Pearson (Feb 9, 1687 in Delaware, PA - Aft. 1762 in PA) [1] p. 28 [2]        Married Nathaniel Bye (1677-) on Aug 2, 1706             1. Joseph Bye (-) [1] p. 38                 Married Rebecca Blackfan on Oct 1750 in Bucks, PA - no children             2. Thomas Bye (Apr 16, 1708 in Bucks, PA - Feb 24, 1786 in PA)   [1] p. 38 [2]                   Married Elizabeth Ross on Sep 30, 1732 - 9 children             3. Anne Bye (-1786)  [1] p. 38                 Married (1) Andrew Ellicott (2) George Wall             4. Margaret Bye (-)  [1] p. 38                 Married (1) Reese Davis (2) Oliver Heed/Reed             5. Mary Bye (-) - unmarried  [1] p. 38             6. Martha Bye (-) - unmarried  [1] p. 38
3	Thomas Pearson (see generation #3 below)
4	John Pearson [1] (Sep 5, 1654 in Pownall Fee, Cheshire - bef. Mar 1709 in Newtown, PA)
5	Sarah Pearson [1] (Nov 3, 1659 in Pownall Fee, Cheshire - ) Married Robert Smith, Jr. on May 7, 1684 in Pownall Fee

03. Thomas Pearson, ^[1] son of Lawrence and Elizabeth was born September 5, 1653 in Pownall Fee, Cheshire, England.  He married Margery Smith, daughter of Robert Smith and Ellen Williamson on February 3, 1682 in Cheshire, England.  They came to PA in the ship "Endeavor of London" in 1683, George Sharpe, Master.  The couple settled in the town of Marple.  He was on the Grand Jury in Chester Co., 1684. He was appointed to receive subscriptions from Marple M.M. to build a meeting house in Chester, 1690. He signed a marriage certificate 7-7-1685 at Chester M.M.  Thomas died in 1734 in Chester Co., PA. 

1	Robert Pearson [1] (Dec 3, 1683 in Chester, PA - Oct 1753 in Chester, PA) Married Katherine Thomas
2	Thomas Pearson, Jr. [1] (Oct 23, 1685 in Chester, PA - Mar 1705 in Chester, PA)
3	Laurence Pearson [1] (Oct 2, 1687 in Chester, PA - 1754 in Westmoreland, PA)  Married Esther Massey on Mar 24, 1711      1. Hannah Pearson [1] (Mar 25, 1712 - )      2. Thomas Pearson (1714 - )      3. Sibilla Pearson [1] (Aug 24, 1717 - 1806)      4. Phebe Pearson [1] (1719-1784)      5. Benjamin Pearson [1] (1722-)      6. Esther Pearson [1] (Oct 31, 1724 - )      7. Margery Pearson [1] (May 14, 1724/6 in Chester, PA - Abt. 1798 in PA)          Married Moses Starr      8. Charity Pearson [1] (Sep 17, 1730 - )      9. Lydia Pearson [1] (1733-1814)
4	Enoch Pearson (See Generation #4 below)
5	John Pearson [1] (Dec 1, 1692 in Chester, PA - Jun 10, 1763 in Chester, PA)  Married Sarah
6	Abel Pearson [1] (Apr 9, 1695 in Chester, PA - 1745 in Frederick, VA)
7	Sarah Pearson [1] (Apr 8, 1697 in Chester, PA - Aft. 1756 in Springfield, PA) Married John West in 1718 - 7 children
8	Benjamin Pearson [1] (Feb 1, 1698 in Chester, PA - Abt. 1734)
9	Mary Pearson [1] (Jul 20, 1701 in Chester, PA - Abt. 1784) Married Nicholas Rogers on Sep 22, 1720
10	Margery Pearson [1] (Sep 23, 1703 in Chester, PA - 1747) Married Peter Thomson

04. Enoch Pearson, ^[1] son of Thomas and Margery was born on May 12, 1690 in Chester Co., PA.  He was born probably on the old homestead near the Springfield Meeting house and was married in 1719 to Mary Smith daughter of William Smith and Elizabeth.  This marriage was not according to the order of friends and Enoch's apology, that shows that he was not disowned from meeting. Whether Mary belonged to the Society of Friends, is not known. Their 15 children did not have birthright memberships in the society. They were all born in Pennsylvania.  Enoch died on February 23, 1749 in Frederick Co., VA. 

The children of Enoch and Mary include: 

1	William Pearson 1718/1721 in Chester Co., PA - 1780 in Newberry, SC) Married Elizabeth Everingham/Everington
2	Benjamin Pearson (19 Sep 1722 in Philadelphia, PA - 6 Jun 1788 in Newberry, SC) Married (1) Agatha Brooks Married (2) Margaret Evans
3	Samuel Pearson (See below)
4	Thomas Pearson (24 Mar 1728 in PA - 13 Oct 1820 in Miami, OH) He worked as a blacksmith, and he also made saddles and harnesses.  After he and his second wife Mary settled in Miami County, Ohio, he became blind. Married (1) Mary Campbell (1738-1812)       1. Mary Pearson (Sep 23, 1778 - Aug 27, 1711) Married (2) Ann Powell (1729-1773)       1. Joseph Pearson (Mar 27, 1755 - Jun 19, 1814)
5	Elizabeth Pearson (22 Aug 1731 in PA - 1795)
6	Joseph Pearson (2 Jul 1735 in VA - aft. 1790 in Union Co., SC)
7	Sarah Pearson (20 Sep 1736 in VA - )
8	Margery Pearson (8 Sep 1741 in VA - 1755)

05. Samuel Pearson, ^[1] son of Enoch and Mary was born on June 23, 1724 in Delaware Co., PA.  He served as a private in the French and Indian War, while living in Frederick Co. MD.  Samuel married 4 times and had children with each wife. 

He married (1) Martha Worthington, daughter of Robert Worthington and Mary Burtis in 1749.  They had 3 children: Mary, Enoch and William. She died in 1952. 

He married (2) Christina Potts in 1757. They had 1 child; Martha. She died in 1760. 

He married (3) Mary Rogers in 1762.  They had 4 children: Benjamin, Hannah, Samuel and Eunice. In 1771 Samuel, wife Mary and children Enoch, William, Martha, Benjamin, Hannah, Samuel and Eunice received a certificate to remove to the Bush River MM, SC - from Hopewell MM, Frederick, MD.  Mary died in 1771. 

He married (4) Mary Steddom in 1772 and had daughter Sarah.  Samuel died on January 8, 1790 in Bush River, Newberry Co., SC.

The 3 children of Samuel and Martha Worthington are:

1	Mary Pearson (Feb 26, 1750 in Frederick Co., VA - 1836 in Warren, OH) Mary married (1) John Mills (abt 1731 - 1814) on Feb 28, 1793   Mary married (2) William Taylor (1750-1781) on Oct 29, 1773 in SC Click here to view Mary's extended family page
2	Enoch Pearson (See Below)
3	William Pearson (Apr 1, 1754 in VA - Apr 26, 1800 in Newberry, SC) Married Ann P. Steddom (1756-1817) on Aug 31, 1775 in SC Click here to view William's extended family page

06. Enoch Pearson, ^[1] son of Samuel and Martha was born on January 14, 1751 in Buckingham, PA.  He married Phoebe De Moss, daughter of James De Moss and Phoebe Cox on November 10, 1774.  Enoch died on May 23, 1790 in Bush River, Newberry Co., SC.  Their children are listed in "Encyclopedia of American Quaker genealogy", by William Wade Hinshaw V1, 1867-1947. p. 1022.

The 7 children of Enoch and Phoebe are:

1	Martha Elizabeth Pearson (Nov 19, 1775 in SC - Mar 1, 1816 in AL) Married Elijah Thomas (1775-1849) Click here to go to Martha's extended family page
2	Joanna Pearson (May 1, 1778 in SC - Bef. 1807 in Miami, OH) Married William Pugh (1759-1819) on Jan 31, 1799 in SC May have had one daughter Hannah (1803-1850) who married Dr. Horatio Gates Sexton (1796-1865)
3	Samuel Pearson (May 1, 1778 in SC - Feb 2, 1810 in Miami, OH) Married Ann Jay (1778-1820) on Mar 7, 1799 in Newberry, SC Ann is the daughter of John Jay (1752-1829) and Elizabeth Pugh. Click here to go to Samuel's extended family page
4	Rebecca Pearson (June 1, 1780 in Newberry, SC - Jul 12, 1898 in SC) Married Edward Hawkins (1775-1834) Click here to go to Rebecca's extended family page
5	William M. Pearson (June 19, 1787 in SC - May 3, 1867 in Gosport, IA) 2 DNA matches Married (1) Anna Miles Married (2) Mary Anderson (1797-1865) Click here to go to William's extended family page
6	Mary Pearson (Aug 12, 1783 in SC - May 9, 1855 in Miami, OH) Married Jonathan Miles (1778-1868) on Jul 2, 1801 Click here to go to Mary's extended family page
7	Phoebe Pearson (See Below)

07. Phoebe Pearson, ^[1] daughter of Enoch and Phoebe was born on August 05, 1789 in South Carolina.  She married Charles Paty, son of James Paty and Margaret Mote on February 12, 1805 in Newberry Co., SC.  They had 10 children.  Phoebe died on July 24, 1868 in Miami Co., Ohio. 

I descend from their eldest daughter Marsena Patty who married Martin Furnas.