Show ContentsQuarm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Quarm family

The surname Quarm was first found in Cornwall. "Nancor [in the parish of Creed in Cornwall] was for a considerable time a seat belonging to the very ancient family of Quarme; and in early periods it seems to have been a place of their abode; as in the parish church there are some monuments of this family. Until of late, Nancor was the property of John Peters, Esq. of whom it has been purchased of the Rev. George Moore, of Garlinneck, who is the present possessor. The Quarme family is said to have descended from an ancient British tribe, that was never wholly subdued or ruined, either by the Romans, Saxons, Danes, or Normans. About the time of William the Conqueror, the ancestor of this branch lived in wealth and honour at his seat in the South Hams in Devonshire. But prior to this period, many of this tribe about the year 454 departed from Great Britain and took up their abode in Armorica, in which place their descendants still perpetuate the family name. It was probably on account of this family and a few others, having survived the shocks of conquest, and retained their dignity amidst the convulsions of their country, and the revolutions of the world, that the following homely rhyme is indebted for its ancient birth:—

'When William the Conqueror did come, Quarme, Cruis, and Crocker, were at home.' " 1

Early History of the Quarm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quarm research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1142, 1149, 1162, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1676, 1679 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Quarm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quarm Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Quarm include Quarme, Quarm, Cwarm, Kwarm, Quarrm, Quarrme and others.

Early Notables of the Quarm family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Quarme, rector of The Church of King Charles the Martyr, Falmouth, Cornwall (1676-1679)


United States Quarm migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Quarm Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Elizabeth Quarm, who arrived in Utah in 1866


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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