Show ContentsJarmain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Jarmain was formed. The name was derived from the baptismal name German. The surname Jarmain referred to the son of German which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.

Early Origins of the Jarmain family

The surname Jarmain was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the original Latin form of the name Germanus was first listed. 1

As a forename Jerman filius Willelmi was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1248. John Jarman was listed in Norfolk in 1227. Phillippus Germani was found in the Feet of Fines for Dorset in 1236. Johannes Jeremie was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Yorkshire in 1196. 2

Early History of the Jarmain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jarmain research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1539, 1573, 1579, 1591, 1604, 1605, 1611, 1614, 1624, 1628, 1629, 1636, 1645, 1659, 1666, 1667, 1668, 1684, 1692, 1708, 1712 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Jarmain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jarmain Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Jarmain include Jarman, Jarmain, Jermayne, Jermain, Jermyn, Jermin and many more.

Early Notables of the Jarmain family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Ambrose Jermyn; his son, Sir Robert Jermyn DL (1539-1614) was an English politician, High Sheriff of Suffolk for 1579; Sir Thomas Jermyn (1573-1645) was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Andover (1604-1611), and Bury St Edmunds (1614-1629); and Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of Saint Albans, KG (1605-1684), an English politician and courtier. He was second son of Sir Thomas Jermyn, knt., by Mary Barber. In 1624 Jermyn was gentleman in attendance on the embassy to Paris, and in 1628 he represented Liverpool in parliament. On 2 July 1628 he was appointed...
Another 235 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jarmain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Jarmain family to Ireland

Some of the Jarmain 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 Jarmain family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Jarmain were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John, his wife Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Priscilla Jarman settled in New England in 1635; John Jermain settled in Virginia in 1739; Thomas Jermayne settled in St. Christopher in 1634.



The Jarmain Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: nec ab oriente nec ab occidente
Motto Translation: Neither from the east nor from the west.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook