Show ContentsPaumier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Paumier family name to the British Isles. Paumier is a name for a person who worked as a palmer. The surname Paumier was originally derived from the Old French word palmer, which was taken from the Latin word palmifer meaning palm bearer. In this case the original bearer of the surname was a pilgrim who carried palm branches back from the Holy Land. In early history the name Paumier represented a missionary. 1

Early Origins of the Paumier family

The surname Paumier was first found in "the east of England, especially in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Kent." 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include the following: Alice le Palmere in Cambridgeshire; Ralph le Palmere in Yorkshire; and Robert le Palmere in Lincolnshire. Richard le Palmere was listed in Somerset during the reign of Edward III and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Ricardus Palmer as a mason. 3

Ladbroke Hall in Ladbroke, near Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire was the home of the Palmer family since 1633 when it was purchased by William Palmer. "The church [of Ladbroke] is a handsome structure in the later English style, with a square embattled tower surmounted by a lofty and elegant spire, and contains several monuments, chiefly to the Palmer family." 4

Due to the nature of the surname, it was not surprising to find entries in early Scotland too. Hugh Palmer witnessed resignation of the lands of Ingilbristoun in 1204, and in 1253 Ricardus Palmerus de Kingore attested a memorandum of the ornaments of the chapel of Dundemor. Alexander Palmer witnessed a sale of land in Glasgow, c. 1280-1290, Elye Palmere held a land in Waldeuegate, Berwick, in 1307 and Hugh Palmere was "messager" of the Earl of Douglas in 1397. 5

Early History of the Paumier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paumier research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1090, 1634, 1705, 1731, 1735, 1872 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Paumier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paumier Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Palmer, Pallmer, Parmer, Balmer, Ballmer and others.

Early Notables of the Paumier family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir James Palmer of Dorney Court, Buckinghamshire; and his son, Roger Palmer, 1st Earl of Castlemaine, PC (1634-1705), an English courtier, diplomat, and politician, his wife Barbara Villiers was...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Paumier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paumier Ranking

In France, the name Paumier is the 2,373rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Paumier family to Ireland

Some of the Paumier family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 167 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Paumier family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Paumier or a variant listed above: William Palmer, who arrived in Plymouth in 1621 aboard the " Fortune"; Frances Palmer, who arrived in Plymouth in 1623 aboard the "Anne and the Little James".


Contemporary Notables of the name Paumier (post 1700) +

  • Alexis Paumier Frómeta (b. 1975), Cuban shot putter who won the silver medals at the 2001 and 2005 Central American and Caribbean Championships
  • Charles Paumier du Verger, Belgian sport shooter who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris and won a bronze medal in the military rifle standing event and later at the 1908 Summer Olympics he won a silver medal in the team 50 yard free pistol event
  • Maurice Paumier, French designer of the eponymous Paumier MP2 Baladin, a French-built light sporting aircraft of the 1960s


The Paumier 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: Palma virtuti
Motto Translation: The palm is for virtue.


  1. 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)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  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. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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