Our earliest documented Emerson ancestor is Alexander Emerson, who died about 1606 and probably lived in Lincolnshire, England.

The Emerson line starts with Aimeric of Poictou in the area of Aquitane, France in the 12th century. Aquitane at that time was under English rule. His uncle was Philip of Poitou who was a clerk that accompanied Richard I to the Crusades. Richard the Lionhearted rewarded Philip by appointing him as the Bishop of Durham, England 1197. Aimeric also came to Durham, England and became the Archdeacon of Durham Cathedral.   When Philip died he left his land holdings to his nephew Aimeric, who enjoyed prosperity until Pope Innocent III excommunicated King John, at which time Aimeric lost much of his land holdings due to his support of John.

Aimeric's descendants spent a few generations in court attempting to recover their lost land holdings. They were somewhat successful as indicated by Thomas Emersons inheritance of land in Newlandside. Thomas also served as the High Forester in 1431-1442. His son John inherited land in Newlandside, Shittlehope, and Boltishead. Thomas' other son Robert, inherited Brownsplace in Durham. The Emerson Clan lived in Weardale and the forests of Stanhope Park which is in Durham Co., until the early 16th century. Many of them served as Forresters in Stanhope park. In the 16th century many of the Emersons left the Durham area and moved to the south of England where they entered the middle-class as traders and professionals. (from "English Roots of the Haverhill and Ipswich Emersons" by Ralph Emerson, Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1985).