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Parnall History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Parnall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Parnall name is thought to be derived from the medieval female personal name "Peronel, Pernel, Parnell," which came from the Latin "Petronilla," or "Petronia," which was the name of an early Roman martyr. 1 Other sources suggest that the Parnall name is a reference to Pernelle, Normandy, a place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. "Pernelle was near Valognes, Normandy." 2

Early Origins of the Parnall family

The surname Parnall was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

The township of Poulton, with Spittal was once a family seat as the manor was once held by the Parnell family. 3

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family had scattered and entries were found as both a forename and surname: Petronilla de le Le in Oxfordshire; Pernel Clere in Huntingdonshire; William Peronel and Alexander Pernel in Cambridgeshire. 1 "The Parnells are now principally seated in Devon and Cornwall, but there are a few in Cambridgeshire." 4

Early History of the Parnall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parnall research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1679 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Parnall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parnall Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Parnall include Parnell, Parnel, Parnall and others.

Early Notables of the Parnall family

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

Migration of the Parnall family to Ireland

Some of the Parnall family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parnall migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Parnalls to arrive on North American shores:

Parnall Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Edmund Parnall, (b. 1815), aged 25, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
Mrs. Mary Parnall, (b. 1802), aged 38, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
Mr. John Parnall, (b. 1796), aged 44, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
Miss Gertrude Parnall, (b. 1828), aged 12, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
Mr. Edmund Parnall, (b. 1830), aged 10, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parnall migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Parnall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Parnall, (b. 1810), aged 28, Cornish agriculturist travelling aboard the ship "Fairlie" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 1st December 1838 6
Miss Grace Parnall, (b. 1813), aged 25, Cornish house maid travelling aboard the ship "Fairlie" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 1st December 1838 6
Miss Grace Parnall, (b. 1813), aged 25, Cornish farm servant travelling aboard the ship "Fairlie" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 6th December 1838 7
Mr. John Parnall, (b. 1810), aged 28, Cornish agriculturist travelling aboard the ship "Fairlie" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 6th December 1838 7
Morgan Parnall, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Petrel" in 1851 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parnall migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Parnall Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

E. Parnall, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Crusader" in 1882

The Parnall Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Te digna sequere
Motto Translation: Follow worthy things.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PETREL 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Petrel.htm