| ![Show Contents]() Pagans History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of PagansWhat does the name Pagans mean? Some believe the Pagans surname is thought to derive from the Latin medieval personal name Paganus, which also gave us the name Paine. "The surname of this family, Painel or Paynell, in the Latin of the time 'Paganellus,' is a diminution of Pain or Paganus, and, as was the custom of the time, was no doubt first applied for distinction to a Pain Fitz Pain during his father's life-time, and happened, as in this case, to be perpetuated as a surname, by his descendants." 1 Alternatively, the name was derived from "Painell or Paganel, a great baronial family in Normandy." 2 "Paganus was a Norman personal name, whence the modern Payne and Paine, as well as the more ancient Paganel and Paynel. Pagan, however, exists at this day among English surnames. " 3 Early Origins of the Pagans familyThe surname Pagans was first found in Yorkshire. However, some of the family were found at Astwood in the union of Newport-Pagnell in Buckinghamshire since early times. "This place was at the Conquest surveyed as part of the adjoining parish of Hardmead, and belonged to William Fitzanculph, from whom it descended by marriage to Fulk Paganell, the founder of Newport-Pagnell." 4 Back in Yorkshire, at Hooton-Pagnell, another branch of the family was found. "This parish derives the latter part of its name from Ralph de Paganel, to whom the manor belonged at the time of the Conquest." 4 And in Huggate in the East Riding of Yorkshire, more early records of the family were found. "The church is a handsome structure, chiefly in the Norman style, with portions of a later date, and an embattled tower surmounted by a lofty octagonal spire; it is supposed to have been built by Ralph de Paganel, about the year 1233." 4 "The manor [of Little Linford, Buckinghamshire] was anciently in the Pagnells, from whom it came by successive female heirs to the families of Somery, Botetort, Burnell, and Bermingham. " 4 Early History of the Pagans familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pagans research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1180 and 1265 are included under the topic Early Pagans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pagans Spelling VariationsNorman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Pagan, Paganell, Paganel, Pagnell and others. Early Notables of the Pagans familyMore information is included under the topic Early Pagans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Pagans migration to the United States | + |
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Pagans or a variant listed above:
Pagans Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Andy Pagans, aged 10, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 5
- Peter Pagans, aged 11, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 5
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 timeo nec sperno
Motto Translation: I neither fear nor despise.
- Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- 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)
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