Show ContentsPalister History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Palister Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Palister

What does the name Palister mean?

The name Palister is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a person who made palings or fences. 1 "The palliser (the French palis, a pale, a stake) was a kind of parker, one who guarded or fenced enclosures." 2

Early Origins of the Palister family

The surname Palister was first found in Wakefield, Yorkshire where Roger Palesar was recorded as holding lands in 1315. Later in Staffordshire, Richard Palicer was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1381. 1

So as to underscore the Yorkshire heritage, the Fabric Rolls of York Minster: Wills and Inventories (Surtees Society) lists: John Pallyser, Yorkshire; Thomas Palysar, Yorkshire; William Pallyster, Yorkshire; and John Palyster, Yorkshire. 2

Religious conflicts claimed many lives over the years including "The Rev. Thomas Palaser, or Pallicer, born at Ellerton-upon-Swale, a Roman Catholic priest, executed for his religion at Durham, Aug. 9, 1600." (Old Yorkshire)

Early History of the Palister family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Palister research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1646, 1660, 1668, 1669, 1670, 1678, 1694, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1735, 1740, 1741, 1743, 1744, 1749, 1793, 1794, 1796, 1807, 1830, 1844, 1847, 1853, 1855, 1856, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1871, 1882, 1887 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Palister History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Palister 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 Palister include Paliser, Palliser, Pallisar, Palisar, Palister and many more.

Early Notables of the Palister family

William Palliser (1646-1726), Archbishop of Cashel, son of John Palliser, born at Kirkby Wisk in Yorkshire, and received his early education at Northallerton under John Smith. At the age of fourteen he entered Trinity College, Dublin, of which he became a fellow in 1668. He received deacon's orders at Wexford in November 1669, and priest's orders on the 28th of the following January, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Palliser was elected 'medicus' in Trinity College, Dublin, in October 1670, and appointed professor of divinity in that university in 1678. 3 Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser (1723-1796), of an old family long settled in...
Another 203 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Palister Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Palister family to Ireland

Some of the Palister family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Palister migration to Canada +

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:

Palister Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Palister, who settled in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1774
  • Joseph Palister, aged 25, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print

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