Show ContentsPermenter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Permenter is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Permenter is for a tailor. 1 2

Not all of the family moved to England as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae notes that John and Ranulph Parmentarius (Latin form of the name) were recorded there 1180-1195 3

Early Origins of the Permenter family

The surname Permenter was first found in Leicestershire where Robert Parmenter was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1177. A few years later in Kent, Vmridus Parmentier was recorded in Pipe Rolls of 1198 and later again, William le Parmenter was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1204. In Worcestershire, Robert le Parminter was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1221 and in Cambridgeshire, Thomas le Parmeter was recorded c. 1250. Mancerus le Parmenter was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for: Ralphle Parmenter, Cambridgeshire; Robert Parmintre, Oxfordshire; and Walter le Parmunter, Salop (Shropshire.) 5

Early rolls in Somerset included entries for John Permonter, Somerset; Roger Permonter; and John le Permonter. All entries were noted 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 6

In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 noted Isabella Parmeter; and Johannes Parmenter as holding lands there at that time. 5

Early History of the Permenter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Permenter research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1275, 1658, 1671, 1676 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Permenter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Permenter Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Parmenter, Parminster, Parmenster, Parminter, Parmiter, Parmunter, Perminter, Parmunter, Parmintew and many more.

Early Notables of the Permenter family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was James (Jacques) Parmentier (1658-1730), painter, born in France in 1658, was nephew of the celebrated painter, Sebasté Bourdon, who encouraged and gave him instruction in drawing, and would have done more for him but for his death in 1671. After some further instruction from a relation, Parmentier came to England in September 1676, to work under J. C. De La Fosse, the decorative painter, who was then engaged in painting the ceilings at the Duke of Montagu's house in Bloomsbury, for which Parmentier laid in the dead colours. He was then sent over...
Another 146 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Permenter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Permenter Ranking

In the United States, the name Permenter is the 9,199th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Permenter family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Permenter or a variant listed above: John Parmiter settled in Nevis in 1663; Phillip Parmitor arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1716; John and Robert Parmenter arrived in Boston in 1630.


Contemporary Notables of the name Permenter (post 1700) +

  • Russell Permenter, American basketball player for Leeds Force in 2014
  • John Permenter, American fiddler, known for his work on Clint Black's album Killin' Time


The Permenter 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: Deo favente
Motto Translation: By the favour of God.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. 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)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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