Show ContentsParrinston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Parrinston has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the region of Partington. Parrinston 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 Parrinston family

The surname Parrinston was first found in Cheshire at Partington, a township, in the parish of Bowdon, union of Altrincham, hundred of Bucklow. 1 The place name dates back to at least 1220 when it was first listed as Pattingham. Literally, it means "homestead of the family or followers of a man called P(e)atta," from the Old English personal name + "inga" or "ing" + "ham." 2 "This surname is well known in South Lancashire." 3

"The Partingtons are best represented in the Manchester district. There is a Cheshire township thus called. There are also Partingtons in Worcestershire." 4

Early History of the Parrinston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parrinston research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Parrinston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parrinston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Parrinston have been found, including Partington, Partingtone and others.

Early Notables of the Parrinston family

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

Migration of the Parrinston family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Parrinston, or a variant listed above: Hugh Partington who settled in Maryland in 1697; James, John, Richard and William Partington all arrived in Philadelphia between 1814 and 1856.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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