Pampynge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Pampynge is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pampynge family lived in Pavelion, (Pavilion) "near Mantes, in Normandy. Torald de Papilion present in a great Council, London 1082. The Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Joscelin, William Papeilon, Normandy 1180, Walter and William de Papeillon 1198."1

These entries mean than some of the family emigrated to England while others remained in Normandy. In French, the name literally means "of the pavilion," a tent which is "so called because spread out like the wings of a butterfly. Latin, papilionem, acc. OF papilio, (1) a butterfly, (a) a tent." 2

Early Origins of the Pampynge family

The surname Pampynge was first found in the Dives Rolls which lists Ralph Papelion.

"He witnessed William the Conqueror's confirmation charter to the church of Durham ; and is mentioned among those present at a great Council held at Westminster in 1082 (Mon.Angl.). Ralph Papelion, in 1214, was elected Abbot of Westminster. Halnadus or Havenald de Papelion was a benefactor of Selby Abbey, and a witness to the Bishop of Lincoln's grant to Thorney in Cambridgeshire. "Dominus Rydel Papillon " and Nicholas Papilioun of Lincolnshire are entered in the Hundredorum Rolls of Edward I. ; and Geoffrey Pampilon was " one of the Procurators appointed by Simon Abbot of Croyland to appear on his behalf in the Parliament at York, 16 Edward. II." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include a listing for Nicholas Papalion in Lincolnshire and during the reign of Edward II, the source the Freemen of York lists "John le Pavilloner (a maker of pavilions)." 2

"The Papillons of Kent and Sussex are of Huguenot origin, and are descendants of Anthony Papillon, the friend of Erasmus, and one of the most eminent Protestants of France. His grandson, David Papillon, settled at Lubenham, co. Leicester, and was ancestor of the Papillons of Acrise." 4

The movie Papillon (1973) starring Steve McQueen was based on the 1969 autobiography by the French convict Henri Charrière. Papillon was Henri Charrière's nickname.

Early History of the Pampynge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pampynge research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1455, 1487, 1623, 1647 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Pampynge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pampynge Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Pampynge are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Pampynge include Papillon, Pampillon, Pamphlin, Pamphilon, Pamplin, Pamplyn, Plampin, Pampling, Pampynge and many more.

Early Notables of the Pampynge family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pampynge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pampynge family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Pampynge, or a variant listed above: Percy Pamphillion, and Edgar Pamphillion, who came to Canada sometime between 1884 and 1938 as "Home Children" orphans.

Citations +

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.