Pelfreymint History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Pelfreymint comes from when its first bearer worked as a person who worked as the palfreyman, who was in charge of the palfreys or colts. 1 This occupational surname was first derived from the Old French word parfrement which referred to the individual who saddled horses for women. 2 The term palfrey usually referred to the most expensive and highly-bred types of riding horse during the Middle Ages. 3

One source presumes the family came from Normandy as Richard, Roger Palfrei or Palefridus were listed in Normandy (1180-1195.) 4

Early Origins of the Pelfreymint family

The surname Pelfreymint was first found in Hampshire where Hunfridus Palefrei was listed at Winton in 1148. Later Ralph Palefray was listed at Boldon in 1183. 3

Proving the widespread use of this occupational name, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Thomas Palfrei, Lincolnshire; Richard Palefray, Salop (Shropshire); Gilbert Palfrey, Norfolk; and John Palefrey, Norfolk. 2

Chaucer in his Knight's Tale notes "And to the paleis rode titer many a route Of lordes, upon stedes and palfreis."

Early History of the Pelfreymint family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pelfreymint research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1148, 1200, 1321, 1359, 1411, 1586, 1589, 1633, 1636, 1637, 1638, 1651, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1668, 1685, 1741, 1780, 1796, 1847, 1849 and 1881 are included under the topic Early Pelfreymint History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pelfreymint Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Pelfreymint include Palfrey, Palfry, Palfreyer, Palfreyman and others.

Early Notables of the Pelfreymint family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Palfreyman (died 1589?) was an English author and musician. He was a "gentleman of the chapel royal, together with Tallis, Farrant, Hunnis, and other well-known musicians in Edward VI's reign. He continued in office till 1589, apparently the year of his death. John Parkhurst, the Bishop of Norwich, addressed an epigram to Palfreyman and Robert Couch conjointly, and complimented them on their proficiency alike in music and theology. Palfreyman seems to have lived in the parish of St. Peter, Cornhill. One Thomas Palfreman, described as a plebeian and native of Oxford, matriculated...
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pelfreymint Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pelfreymint family to Ireland

Some of the Pelfreymint family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pelfreymint family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pelfreymint or a variant listed above: Peter Palfrey, who was on record in Massachusetts in 1624; John Palfrey, who arrived in Cambridge, MA in 1658; Jonathan Palfrey, a bonded passenger, who arrived in Barbados in 1698.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)