| ![Show Contents]() Parham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Parham surname is a habitational name derived from place names such as Parham in Suffolk and Sussex, derived from the Old English words "pere," meaning "pear," and "ham," or "homestead." 1 2 Early Origins of the Parham familyThe surname Parham was first found in Suffolk, at Parham, a village and civil parish that dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Perreham and literally meant "homestead or enclosure where pears grow." 3 Here we found the first record of the family, that of Turmod de Perham who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands there at that time. Later, William de Perreham was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Sussex in 1187 and William de Parham was recorded in 1264. Later again, John Parham was recorded in Wiltshire in 1366. 4 The "Sussex Parham was Perham A.D. 959, and also in the 13th century." 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the family in the 13th century: Richard de Parham, Cambridgeshire; John de Perham, Sussex; and Nicholas de Perham, Wiltshire. 5 In early Norfolk records, we found Ralph de Parham, Norfolk (no date.) 6 Early History of the Parham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parham research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1187, 1264, 1366 and 1504 are included under the topic Early Parham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Parham Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Parham has been recorded under many different variations, including Parham, Param, Parram, Perham, Pearham, Perram and others. Early Notables of the Parham familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Parham RankingIn the United States, the name Parham is the 1,614th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 7
 Parham migration to the United States | + |
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Parhams were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:
Parham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- F. Parham, who arrived in Virginia in 1663
- Fra Parham, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 8
Parham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Joseph Parham, who arrived in Boston in 1701
- Thomas Parham, who was deported to America in 1770
Parham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Charles Parham, who was naturalized in Ohio in 1835
| Parham migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Parham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Sarah Parham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 9
- William Dibley Parham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 9
- Mary Parham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 9
- Edmund Parham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 9
- Emma Parham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 9
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Parham (post 1700) | + |
- Estes Foster "Easy" Parham (1921-1982), American professional basketball player
- Lennon Parham (b. 1976), American actress and comedian
- Hartzell Strathdene "Tiny" Parham (1900-1943), Canadian-born, American jazz bandleader and pianist
- Eric "88 Fingaz" Parham (b. 1977), American music producer, songwriter, and keyboardist
- Bernard Parham (b. 1946), American chess master, eponym of the Parham Attack, a chess opening
- Diane Parham, American professor of occupational therapy at the University of Southern California
- Bobby Eugene Parham, American politician
- Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929), American preacher, credited with starting Pentecostalism
- Forrest F. Parham, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
- Admiral Sir Frederick Robertson Parham GBE KCB DSO (1901-1991), British Royal Navy officer, Commander-in-Chief, The Nore
- ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Parham family | + |
HMS Royal Oak - George E.T. Parham, British Sergeant with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 10
| Suggested Readings for the name Parham | + |
- In a Pear Tree: The Story of Some of the Parhams in That Tree by Marjorie Parham Hailey.
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-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)
- Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SINGAPORE (aka SINCAPORE) 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Singapore.gif
- Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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Parham migration to the United States 
Parham migration to Australia 
