This interesting surname of English origin is a patronymic of the personal name Emma, itself a shortened version of Germanic given names such as Ermentrude, Ermyntrude, Ermin meaning "entire" plus "drudi" "strength". The name was introduced into England by the Normans among whom it was extremely popular. The surname dates back to the early 18th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Imesson, Imason, Imesen, etc.. George, son of Thomas and Hannah Imeson, was christened at St. Sepulchre, London on March 14th 1730. John, son of Thomas and Hester Imeson, was christened at St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street, London on April 28th 1731. One, Ann Imison married William Lees at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster on January 9th 1798. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hannah Imeson, christened, which was dated 1727, in St. Sepulchre, London, during the reign of King George 1, known as "The First Hanoverian", 1714 - 1727. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.