Place of Birth

Florida
Tribal Affiliation

Cherokee
Surname Heritage

England / Ireland / Scotland

Richardson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Richardson was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Old German name “Ricard,” meaning “powerful” and “brave.” [1]

Early Origins of the Richardson family

The surname Richardson was first found in Cheshire in 1067 where they were descended from Hugh d’Avranche, Earl Lupus of Chester. His descendant, William Belwood, Lord of Malpas in Cheshire, had two sons, David and Richard. Richard’s grandson John was the first to bear the name Richardson.

Years later the Yorkshire Poll Tax records revealed William Richardson in 1381 and further north in Scotland, Thome filius Ricardi held a charter of the barony of Symundestone in Lanark c. 1315-1321. A few years later, Laurence filius Ricardi was a tenant of the Earl of Douglas in Louchurde in 1376. Murdac Richardesson, a Scottish merchant complained the English had sunk his vessel during a truce in 1359. [2]

Richardson is “essentially a north of England name, extending across the border into Dumfriesshire, and also, but to a less extent, characteristic of most of the east coast counties as far south as Kent and Sussex. The counties of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Durham, Northumberland, and the North and East Ridings of Yorkshirecontain the greatest number of the name.” [3]

Early History of the Richardson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Richardson research.

Richardson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Richardson, Richerson, Richarson and others.

Early Notables of the Richardson family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family at this time was Dame Elizabeth Richardson, 1st Lady Cramond (1576-1651), English writer whose peerage was created for her in 1628; Sir Thomas Richardson (1569-1635), Chief Justice of the King’s Bench; Thomas Richardson, 2nd Lord Cramond (1627-1674), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1674. Christopher Richardson (1618-1698), was an English nonconformist divine who appears to have been born at Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire. Gabriel Richardson (died 1642).

Richardson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Richardson is the 63^rd most popular surname with an estimated 278,544 people with that name. [4] However, in Canada, the name Richardson is ranked the 157^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,150 people with that name. [5] And in Australia, the name Richardson is the 76^th popular surname with an estimated 31,622 people with that name. [6] New Zealand ranks Richardson as 109^th with 3,915 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Richardson as 60^th with 73,247 people. [8]

Migration of the Richardson family to Ireland

Some of the Richardson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

Richardson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Richardson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Richardson, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship “Edwine” [9]
Mrs. Susanna Richardson who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship “Ambrose” as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Charlestown [10]
Samuel Richardson, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1630 [9]
Thomas Richardson, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1630 [9]
Ezekiel Richardson, of Hertfordshire who arrived who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship “Ambrose” as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Charlestown. [9

Richardson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Richardson, who arrived in Maryland in 1700-1701 [9]
John Richardson, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [9]
Sara Richardson, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [9]
John Richardson, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [9]
Thomas Richardson, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [9]

Richardson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Richardson, who landed in New York in 1801 [9]
Samuel Richardson, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1803 [9]
Nathaniel Richardson, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1803 [9]
Jonathan Richardson, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1803 [9]
John Richardson, who landed in America in 1807 [9]

Richardson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Richardson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Richardson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Philip Richardson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Edward Richardson, who was a soldier of St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1756 [11]
Christ Richardson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
John Richardson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774

Richardson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Richardson, who landed in Canada in 1815
Ellen Richardson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1829
Benjamin A Richardson, who landed in Canada in 1831
Caleb Richardson, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Margaret Richardson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833

Richardson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

James M Richardson, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
Mabel Richardson, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
William H Richardson, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Richardson migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Richardson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Richardson, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Calcutta” in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
Mr. John Richardson, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the “Earl Spencer” in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]
Mr. William Richardson, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the “Elizabeth” in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
Mr. James Richardson, (b. 1796), aged 20, English farmer who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life for felony, transported aboard the “Fame” on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
Mr. James Richardson, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Eliza” on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]

Richardson Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Miss Catherine Richardson, (b. 1800), aged 28, English servant who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for coining, transported aboard the “”Competitor”” on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia” [17]

Richardson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Richardson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Richardson, Australian settler travelling from Port of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on board the ship “Defiance” arriving in New Zealand in 1832 [18]
Mr. James Richardson, (b. 1809), aged 30, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship “Oriental” arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 [19]
James Richardson, aged 32, a builder, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Aurora” in 1840
James Robert Richardson, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Arab” in 1841
Eliza Richardson, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Arab” in 1841

Richardson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [20]

Richardson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. William Richardson, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler traveling aboard the ship “John” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [21]
Mr. Manley Richardson, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship “William and John” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [22]
Mr. Robert Richardson, (b. 1602), aged 33, British settler traveling aboard the ship “William and John” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [22]
Mr. Robert Richardson, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship “Paul of London” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [22]
Mr. Richard Richardson, (b. 1599), aged 36, British settler travelling from Gravesend, Englandaboard the ship “Falcon” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [23]

Contemporary Notables of the name Richardson (post 1700) +

Elliot Lee Richardson (1920-1999), American lawyer, politician and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, best known for his resignation as U.S. Attorney General rather than agree to President Nixon’s order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox
Leo Richardson (1931-2023), American head basketball coach at Savannah State University from 1964 to 1971, and the University at Buffalo from 1973 to 1978
Jerome Johnson “Jerry” Richardson Sr. (1936-2023), American businessman, football player, and owner in the National Football League (NFL)
Willie Bell Richardson (1948-2023), American civil rights activist and community advocate who was president of Oregon Black Pioneers
John Thomas Richardson C.M. (1923-2022), American academic and priest from Dallas, Texas, 9th President of DePaul University (1981-1993)
David Richardson (1955-2021), American television writer and producer who wrote for The Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, Two and a Half Men, and F Is for Family
Naazim Richardson (d. 2020), American boxing trainer from Philadelphia
John G. Richardson (1957-2020), American politician, 97th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2004-2006)
Robert D. Richardson (1934-2020), American historian and biographer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dennis Michael Richardson (1949-2019), American lawyer, businessman, and politician, 26th Secretary of State of Oregon from 2017 until his death in 2019

Historic Events for the Richardson family +