Passwater History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Passwater surname comes from the medieval family name Passelewe, which is derived from the Old French words "passe," meaning "to pass," and "l'ewe," or "the water;" thus it was likely originally a nickname for a ferry operator or a merchant, who often crossed the water. 1 It may also have been used as a topographic name for someone who lived on the opposite side of a watercourse from the main settlement.

Another source believes the was " belonging to Parslow (? Parsloes, Essex) [Old English hlaew, a (burial) mound, hill: without the evidence of early forms of the name nothing definite can be said as to the origin of the first element, which may, represent the Anglo-Saxon personal name Pœghere." 2

And another source notes the name may be from "Passelewe, from Pasloup, Etampes, Isle of France." 3

Early Origins of the Passwater family

The surname Passwater was first found in Berkshire, where Radulfus Passaqua is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 4 Later, Ralph Passelewa was listed at Bury St Emunds, Suffolk 1104-1106. Back in Berkshire, Hmo passelowe was listed there in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1194. Later, we found Edmund Passeleye recorded in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1314. Simon Passelegh (Passelewe) was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327 and much later Nycholas Passloo was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 5

The Domesday tenant's name survives in Drayton Parslow, Buckinhamshire and at Parsloes in Dagenham, Essex. Other spellings include: Passelewesmede 1390, Pashlewes 1456, Parslo(w)es 1609, 1634. 5

Early History of the Passwater family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Passwater research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1194, 1273, 1327, 1439, 1450, 1511, 1524, 1585, 1637, 1794 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Passwater History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Passwater Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Parslow, Perslow, Parslew, Farslew, Parsley, Paslow, Paslie, Pasley, Pashley, Pashler, Paslew, Pashley, Pasley, Passley, Pashlie, Paslie, Passlie, Parsloe, Paslew, Passwater, Passleigh, Paslegh, Parslowe, Passlewmede, Passlaw and many more.

Early Notables of the Passwater family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Osbert Parsley (c. 1511-1585), English composer and chorister. From a boy chorister at Norwich Cathedral, Parsley worked there throughout his musical career. His longest composition, Conserva me, domine, was in a graceful polyphonic style...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Passwater Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Passwater migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Passwater Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Passwater, aged 69, who arrived in America, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Passwater (post 1700) +

Richard "Dick" Passwater (b. 1925), retired American racecar driver who raced in NASCAR and USAC

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)