Show ContentsPalgroves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Palgroves family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the region of Palgrave in various counties throughout England. Palgroves is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Palgroves family

The surname Palgroves was first found in Suffolk at Palgrave, a village and civil parish that dates back to 962 when it was listed as Palegrave. By the Domesday Book of 1086 the village's name evolved to Palegraua which was listed there at that time. 1 Great Palgrave in Norfolk has a similar entry in the Domesday Book but this entry is the first listing and therefore it is presumed a more recent village. The place name literally means "grove where the poles are got" from the Old English "pal + "graf" or "grove or a man called Paga" from the Old English personal name + "graf." 2

Early History of the Palgroves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Palgroves research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1525 and 1554 are included under the topic Early Palgroves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Palgroves Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Palgroves include Palgrave, Palgrove and others.

Early Notables of the Palgroves family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Palsgrave (c.1480-1554), an English priest of Henry VIII of England's court. In 1525, he was appointed tutor to Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy. The expression...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Palgroves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Palgroves family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Palgroves were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Richard Palgrave, his wife Anne and their three daughters Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary, who arrived in Charlestown, MA in 1630.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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