Germain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  France 
  Ireland 


The name Germain is rooted in the ancient Norman culture that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a name for someone who was a person of German descent, or a person who was associated with that country through trade or other means. Another derivation of the name suggests that it derives from the Old French given name Germain. This name was borne by a popular French saint from the 5th century, and also meant of the same stock, or related to.

Germanus (378?-448), was "Bishop of Auxerre, and missionary to Britain, son of noble parents whose names are given as Rusticus and Germanilla, was born at Auxerre about 378, and after attending schools in Gaul went to study at Rome. " 1

Germain is a classic example of an polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently.

Early Origins of the Germain family

The surname Germain was first found in Essex where Jerman filius Willelmi was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1248. 2 However, Germanus was earlier listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 3

Early History of the Germain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Germain research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1248, 1250, 1279, 1318, 1377, 1397, 1402, 1650, 1680, 1718, 1738 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Germain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Germain Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled German, Germans, Jermain, Jarman and others.

Early Notables of the Germain family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Germain World Ranking

In the United States, the name Germain is the 5,196th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Germain is ranked the 557th most popular surname with an estimated 8,773 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Germain is the 228th popular surname. 6 France ranks Germain as 172nd with 19,557 people. 7

Migration of the Germain family to Ireland

Some of the Germain 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.


Germain migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Germain or a variant listed above were:

Germain Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Germain Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Germain Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Germain migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Germain Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Germain Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Germain migration to Australia +

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

Germain Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Germain (post 1700) +
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