Show ContentsPagram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Pagram is an ancient Norman name, that would have been used in Britain soon after the Conquest of the island in 1066. This name was given to a person who was a person who had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or some devotional area in Europe such as the tomb of St. Thomas a Beckett at Canterbury.

Early Origins of the Pagram family

The surname Pagram was first found in Norfolk, where the family held lands after the Norman Conquest. Robert, John, and Thomas Pelerin were all registered in Normandy between 1180 and 1195.

Early History of the Pagram family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pagram research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1200 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Pagram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pagram 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 Pilgrim, Pilgrime, Pilgram, Pegram, Pegrem, Pelerin, Peregrine and many more.

Early Notables of the Pagram family

More information is included under the topic Early Pagram Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Pagram family to Ireland

Some of the Pagram 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.

Migration of the Pagram family

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 Pagram or a variant listed above: William Pilgrim, who sailed to Virginia in 1665; Walter Pilgram sailed to Maryland in 1677; Thomas Pilgrim sailed to Barbados in 1680; Richard Pilgrim sailed to Maryland in 1742..


Contemporary Notables of the name Pagram (post 1700) +

  • Valda Pagram OAM, Australian citizen recognized for her service to musical theatre
  • Elisa Pagram MBE, British subject resident in Guatemala, recognized on the Diplomatic Service And Overseas List at the King's Birthday Honours 1943
  • William Pagram MBE, British subject resident in Guatemala, recognized on the Diplomatic Service And Overseas List at the Queen's Birthday Honours 1968
  • Acting Squadron Leader Leonard Pagram MBE, British officer in World War II, recognized as Member of the Order of the British Empire at the King's Birthday Honours 1945


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