Parnham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Parnham surname lived in the parish named Barnham in Hampshire. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English words beorg, meaning hill, and ham, meaning homestead.

Early Origins of the Parnham family

The surname Parnham was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Southwick, some say, from the time of the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Parnham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parnham research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1559, 1570, 1575, 1576, 1592, 1598, 1600, 1604, 1606, 1613, 1630, 1646, 1650, 1659, 1660, 1675 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Parnham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parnham Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Parnham are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Parnham include: Barnham, Barnhum, Barnum, Barnam, Barnhem, Barnem and others.

Early Notables of the Parnham family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Martin Barnham of Kent; Francis Barnham (died 1575), English draper, alderman and Sheriff of London in 1570; and his son, Benedict Barnham (1559-1598), London merchant, alderman and Sheriff of London; Sir Francis Barnham (1576-1646), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1604 and 1646, supporter...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Parnham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parnham migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Parnham or a variant listed above:

Parnham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henry Parnham, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, in 1902
Mrs. Parnham, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
James Parnham, aged 41, who landed in America from Twyford, in 1905
William Parnham, aged 43, who immigrated to America from Nottingham, England, in 1909
Theresa Parnham, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States from Carnarvon, Wales, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parnham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Parnham Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Louis Parnham, aged 27, who settled in Winnepeg, Canada, in 1911

Parnham 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:

Parnham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Parnham, (b. 1835), aged 22, British joiner travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 1
Mr. John Parnham, (b. 1801), aged 57, British carpenter travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 1
Mrs. Sarah Parnham, (b. 1801), aged 57, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 1
Miss Eliza Parnham, (b. 1839), aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 1
Miss Maria Parnham, (b. 1841), aged 17, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Parnham (post 1700) +

James Arthur "Rube" Parnham (1894-1963), American Major League Baseball pitcher for the 1916 and 1917 Philadelphia Athletics
Craig Parnham (b. 1973), English field hockey defender and coach from Bridgnorth, Shropshire; he represented Great Britain in two Summer Olympics in 2000 and 2004
Brett Parnham (b. 1989), Canadian ice hockey centre
Douglas Parnham (b. 1951), British Olympic sprint canoer

Citations +

New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html