Philgrim History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Philgrim was first found in Britina. It was a name for a person who had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or some devotional area in Europe such as the tomb of St. Thomas a Beckett at Canterbury.

Early Origins of the Philgrim family

The surname Philgrim was first found in Norfolk, where the family held lands after the Norman Conquest. Robert, John, and Thomas Pelerin were all registered in Normandy between 1180 and 1195.

Early History of the Philgrim family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Philgrim research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1200 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Philgrim History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Philgrim Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Philgrim are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Philgrim include Pilgrim, Pilgrime, Pilgram, Pegram, Pegrem, Pelerin, Peregrine and many more.

Early Notables of the Philgrim family

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

Migration of the Philgrim family to Ireland

Some of the Philgrim 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 Philgrim family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Philgrim, or a variant listed above: William Pilgrim, who sailed to Virginia in 1665; Walter Pilgram sailed to Maryland in 1677; Thomas Pilgrim sailed to Barbados in 1680; Richard Pilgrim sailed to Maryland in 1742..