The surname of ABSON was a baptismal name 'the son of Abraham' a popular font name in the 13th century. Early records of the name mention ABRAHAM (circa 2000-1650 BC). He was revered in the Old Testament as the father of the Hebrew people. According to Genesis he came from the Sumerian town of Ur in modern Iraq and migrated with his family and flocks via Haran (the ancient city of Mari) to the 'Promised Land' of Canaan, where he settled. After a while in Egypt, he lived to be 175 years old, and was buried with his first wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron. Abraham is generally regarded as the father of the three great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The name may also have been a locational name meaning 'one who came from ABSON' a spot in County Gloucestershire. John Absonne, was documented in the year 1273 in the County of Bedford. Magota Abson of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. William Abson was documented in the parish of Sephton in the year 1617. An eminent member of the name was William Abraham (1842-1922) the Welsh trade unionist and politician, born in Glamorgan. He was a leading figure in the miner's union. He was elected as MP for Rhondda from 1885 to 1918, and devoted himself to mining legislation. When the coast of England was invaded by William The Conqueror in the year 1066, the Normans brought with them a store of French personal names, which soon, more or less, entirely replaced the traditional more varied Old English personal names, at least among the upper and middle classes. A century of so later, given names of the principal saints of the Christian church began to be used. It is from these two types of given name that the majority of the English patronymic surnames are derived and used to this day. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884.