Show ContentsPalfry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Palfry name was originally an Anglo-Saxon name that was given to a person who worked as the palfreyman, who was in charge of the palfreys or colts. 1 This occupational surname was first derived from the Old French word parfrement which referred to the individual who saddled horses for women. 2 The term palfrey usually referred to the most expensive and highly-bred types of riding horse during the Middle Ages. 3

One source presumes the family came from Normandy as Richard, Roger Palfrei or Palefridus were listed in Normandy (1180-1195.) 4

Early Origins of the Palfry family

The surname Palfry was first found in Hampshire where Hunfridus Palefrei was listed at Winton in 1148. Later Ralph Palefray was listed at Boldon in 1183. 3

Proving the widespread use of this occupational name, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Thomas Palfrei, Lincolnshire; Richard Palefray, Salop (Shropshire); Gilbert Palfrey, Norfolk; and John Palefrey, Norfolk. 2

Chaucer in his Knight's Tale notes "And to the paleis rode titer many a route Of lordes, upon stedes and palfreis."

Early History of the Palfry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Palfry research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1148, 1200, 1321, 1359, 1411, 1586, 1589, 1633, 1636, 1637, 1638, 1651, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1668, 1685, 1741, 1780, 1796, 1847, 1849 and 1881 are included under the topic Early Palfry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Palfry Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Palfry has undergone many spelling variations, including Palfrey, Palfry, Palfreyer, Palfreyman and others.

Early Notables of the Palfry family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Thomas Palfreyman (died 1589?) was an English author and musician. He was a "gentleman of the chapel royal, together with Tallis, Farrant, Hunnis, and other well-known musicians in Edward VI's reign...

Ireland Migration of the Palfry family to Ireland

Some of the Palfry 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.


United States Palfry migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Palfry were among those contributors:

Palfry Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Peter Palfry, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1626 5
Palfry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Palfry, who settled in America in 1749

Canada Palfry migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Palfry Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Palfry, who settled in Canada in 1831


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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)
  5. 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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