Show ContentsPerram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Perram surname is a habitational name derived from place names such as Parham in Suffolk and Sussex, derived from the Old English words "pere," meaning "pear," and "ham," or "homestead." 1 2

Early Origins of the Perram family

The surname Perram was first found in Suffolk, at Parham, a village and civil parish that dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Perreham and literally meant "homestead or enclosure where pears grow." 3

Here we found the first record of the family, that of Turmod de Perham who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands there at that time. Later, William de Perreham was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Sussex in 1187 and William de Parham was recorded in 1264. Later again, John Parham was recorded in Wiltshire in 1366. 4 The "Sussex Parham was Perham A.D. 959, and also in the 13th century." 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the family in the 13th century: Richard de Parham, Cambridgeshire; John de Perham, Sussex; and Nicholas de Perham, Wiltshire. 5 In early Norfolk records, we found Ralph de Parham, Norfolk (no date.) 6

Early History of the Perram family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perram research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1187, 1264, 1366 and 1504 are included under the topic Early Perram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perram Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Parham, Param, Parram, Perham, Pearham, Perram and others.

Early Notables of the Perram family

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


United States Perram migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Perram Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Perram, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1802 7

Australia Perram migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Perram Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Perram, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. Robert Perram who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  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. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
  9. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 8th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/circassian


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