|
![Show Contents]() Periam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Cornwall in southwestern England provides the original birthplace of the surname Periam. Nickname surnames were rare among the Cornish, they did occasionally adopt names that reflected the physical characteristics or other attributes of the original bearer of the name. The name Periam is a nickname type of surname for a servant employed by someone named Perry. Perry is a derivative of the ancient Biblical name Peter, meaning rock. Early Origins of the Periam familyThe surname Periam was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. By the 12th century the family had affected the Normanization of their surname to De Puryham, but it is more likely to be of Dumnonian origin, although undoubtedly that spelling is incorrect. From Puryham the name became Perriam, and then Periam, and then Peryman, then Perriman. There is no evidence that the name Perryman has any connection whatsoever with the wine, perry, a maker or seller of perry. 1 There is solid evidence, however, that Periam and Perryman are connected, both bearing a similar family name Coat of Arms from about the 15th century. This whole group of names are most likely connected with the Cornish St. Perran as we shall see later in this treatise. Early History of the Periam familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Periam research. Another 235 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1237, 1534, 1551, 1593 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Periam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Periam Spelling VariationsCornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and 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 of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Perryman, Peryman, Perriman, Periman, Perrieman, Perieman, Perreman, Pereman, Peryam, Perriam, Periam, Puryham and many more. Early Notables of the Periam familyAnother 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Periam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Periam migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first North American settlers with Periam name or one of its variants:
Periam Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Mr. Periam, who settled in Georgia in 1739
| Periam migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Periam Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Robert Periam, (b. 1765), aged 42, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 3rd August 1807, sentenced for 7 years, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Gambier" on 2nd July 1808 to New South Wales, Australia 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Periam (post 1700) | + |
- Dame Elizabeth Periam Gass DCVO JP (b. 1940), Lady Gass, née Acland-Hood, English Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset from 1998 to 2015
|
Periam migration to the United States 
Periam migration to Australia 
