Show ContentsParrinton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Parrinton family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Parrinton comes from when the family lived in the region of Partington. Parrinton is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Parrinton family

The surname Parrinton was first found in Cheshire at Partington, a township, in the parish of Bowdon, union of Altrincham, hundred of Bucklow. 1 The place name dates back to at least 1220 when it was first listed as Pattingham. Literally, it means "homestead of the family or followers of a man called P(e)atta," from the Old English personal name + "inga" or "ing" + "ham." 2 "This surname is well known in South Lancashire." 3

"The Partingtons are best represented in the Manchester district. There is a Cheshire township thus called. There are also Partingtons in Worcestershire." 4

Early History of the Parrinton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parrinton research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Parrinton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parrinton Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Parrinton has appeared include Partington, Partingtone and others.

Early Notables of the Parrinton family

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

Migration of the Parrinton family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Parrinton arrived in North America very early: Hugh Partington who settled in Maryland in 1697; James, John, Richard and William Partington all arrived in Philadelphia between 1814 and 1856.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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