Show ContentsPalm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the bearers of the Palm family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Palmes, Languedoc, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Palm family

The surname Palm was first found in Yorkshire where "there appears no reason to doubt the antiquity of this family, said to be descended from Manfred Palmes, who lived in the reign of Stephen, [1135-1154] and seated at Naburn, co York, since the year 1226 by a match with the heiress of Watterville." 2 3

The family held the estates since these early times to at least the late 19th century when " Naburn Hall was the seat of George Palmes, Esq." 4

Early History of the Palm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Palm research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1394, 1415, 1420, 1455, 1467, 1487, 1499, 1510, 1519, 1554, 1580, 1582, 1600, 1608, 1613, 1614, 1626, 1640, 1642, 1643, 1653, 1654 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Palm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Palm Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Palm include Palmes, Palms, Palm, Parmes, Parms, Parmes, Parm and others.

Early Notables of the Palm family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Brian Palmes (before 1467-1519), an English landowner, justice of the assize and politician who sat in the House of Commons. He was the son eldest son and heir of William Palmes of Naburn and Eleanor...
  • Sir Guy Palmes (1580-1653) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1643. He was the son of Sir Francis Palmes (c. 1554-1613) the Engli...
  • Sir Bryan Palmes (1600-1654), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1626 and 1640. He was the son of Sir Guy Palmes of Ashwell, Rutland, and his wife Ann Stafford, daughter of S...
  • Lieutenant-General Francis Palmes MP (died 1719), a noted favourite general of the Duke of Marlborough

Palm Ranking

In the United States, the name Palm is the 5,024th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5


United States Palm migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Palm or a variant listed above:

Palm Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Palm (1713-1789), (anglicized John Palm), Bavarian doctor and soldier, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749, founder of Palmyra, Pennsylvania
  • Johanes Palm, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1750
  • Johannes Palm, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 6
  • Hans Adam Palm, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1767 6
Palm Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J. P. Palm, who settled in Philadelphia in 1816
  • Svante Palm, who landed in New York in 1844 6
  • Heinr Palm, aged 24, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1845 6
  • Joachim Palm, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Orient" 6
  • Wilhelm Palm, aged 20, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Dyle Soomes" 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Palm (post 1700) +

  • Cheryl Palm (1954-2024), American agricultural scientist who was Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida
  • Rudolph Palm (1880-1950), Curaçao born composer
  • John Palm (1885-1925), Curaçao born composer
  • Jacobo Palm (1887-1982), Curaçao born composer
  • Jan Gerard Palm (1831-1906), Curaçao born composer
  • Evy Palm (b. 1942), Swedish long-distance runner
  • August Palm (1849-1922), Swedish socialist activist
  • Siegfried Palm (b. 1927), German cellist
  • Johann Philipp Palm (1768-1806), German bookseller of Nuremberg, arrested and executed in 1806 for a pamphlet published during the Napoleonic occupation


The Palm Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ut palma justus
Motto Translation: The righteous is like the palm.


Suggested Readings for the name Palm +

  • Ancestors and Descendants of James and Althea (Loose) Johnston and Allied Families by Aaron Montgomery Johnston.
  • Tock sa Mecka: Swedish Pioneer Life on the Prairie, Experienced by the Palm Family by Esther Palm Gayman.

  1. 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)
  2. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)


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