Show ContentsJermain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Jermain are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the baptismal name German. The surname Jermain 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 Jermain family

The surname Jermain 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 Jermain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jermain 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 Jermain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jermain Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Jermain has been spelled many different ways, including Jarman, Jarmain, Jermayne, Jermain, Jermyn, Jermin and many more.

Early Notables of the Jermain 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 Jermain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Jermain family to Ireland

Some of the Jermain 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.


United States Jermain migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Jermains to arrive in North America:

Jermain Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Jermain, who landed in Carolina in 1679 3
Jermain Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Jermain, who settled in Virginia in 1739

Australia Jermain migration to Australia +

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

Jermain Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Francis Jermain, (b. 1810), aged 16, English millwright who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Jermain (post 1700) +

  • Sylvanus P. Jermain, American politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Toledo, Ohio, 1929 5
  • Jerome P. Jermain, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Orange and West Haven, 1932 5
  • George W. Jermain, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Niagara County 1st District, 1850 5
  • George W. Jermain, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Washington County, 1831 5
  • Mr. Jermain Colin Defoe O.B.E. (b. 1982), British Footballer who plays as a striker for the Scottish Premiership club Rangers, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to the Jermain Defoe Foundation 6
  • Jermain "Choo Choo" Mackey (b. 1979), Bahamian professional middle/super middle/light heavyweight boxer


The Jermain 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)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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