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Rayment History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Rayment History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

Rayment is an ancient name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of emigration that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name comes from the Norman personal name Raimund. This name is composed of the elements ragin, meaning counsel, and mund, meaning protection. 1

However, another source claims the name was "an ancient Christian name Raimundus. It was introduced at the Conquest, or soon after." 2

Early Origins of the Rayment family

The surname Rayment was first found in Essex where "Giraldus Raimundus" who appears in Domesday as a mesne-lord there. The name continued there till about 1272, when John Reimund is found in the Hundredorum Rolls. At the same date the family was numerous in Kent. Their original seat was at Raymond's, near Rye. They were for a great length of time Stewards to the Abbot and Convent of Battel for their lands near this place; and it is probable that it was once the original stock from which the Raymonds of Essex, Norfolk and other counties, derived their extraction. 3

Richard filius Reimund and Robert filius Reimund from Cambridgeshire were also mentioned in the Hundredorum, Rolls. 4

In Somerset, Philip Remond was listed there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Rayment family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rayment research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1626, 1673, 1680, 1683, 1725 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Rayment History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rayment Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Raymond, Rayment, Raymonds, Raymon and others.

Early Notables of the Rayment family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Thomas Raymond or Rayment (1626-1683), an English judge, Justice of the Common Pleas (1680)

Migration of the Rayment family to Ireland

Some of the Rayment family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rayment migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Rayment or a variant listed above:

Rayment Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Rayment, who landed in Virginia in 1629 6

Rayment Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mary Rayment, aged 31, who landed in America from London, England, in 1904
Richard Rayment, aged 4, who landed in America from London, England, in 1904
Charles Rayment, aged 6, who immigrated to the United States from Woodford Bdge, England, in 1907
Guy Varley Rayment, aged 40, who immigrated to America from Sidcup, Kent, England, in 1918
Harry Rayment, who landed in America from Greenwich, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rayment migration to Australia +

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

Rayment Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Rayment, (James, Raimond, John, Raymond, Raymond, Rayment) who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Thomas Rayment, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 8
Sarah Rayment, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Rayment (post 1700) +

Alan William Harrington Rayment (b. 1928), former English cricketer
Percy Tarlton Rayment FRZS (1882-1964), Australian artist, author, broadcaster, poet and naturalist

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm