Pilgrim History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The history of the name Pilgrim goes back 1066 when the Norman Conquest of England occurred. Soon after this event, the name would have been given to 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 Pilgrim family

The surname Pilgrim 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 Pilgrim family

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

Pilgrim Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Pilgrim has been recorded under many different variations, including Pilgrim, Pilgrime, Pilgram, Pegram, Pegrem, Pelerin, Peregrine and many more.

Early Notables of the Pilgrim family

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

Pilgrim World Ranking

In the United States, the name Pilgrim is the 6,734th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Pilgrim is ranked the 275th most popular surname with an estimated 162 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Pilgrim family to Ireland

Some of the Pilgrim 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.


Pilgrim migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Pilgrims were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Pilgrim Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Pilgrim Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Pilgrim Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Pilgrim Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Pilgrim migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pilgrim Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Pilgrim migration to Australia +

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

Pilgrim Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Pilgrim migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Pilgrim Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Pilgrim migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 9
Pilgrim Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Pilgrim (post 1700) +
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