Show ContentsPym History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Pym is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that is derived from the name Euphemia where it is a short form of that name. The surname Pym originally derived from the Old English word Pymma which came from Euphemia. The surname Pym referred to the son of Euphemia which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames. [1]

Early Origins of the Pym family

The surname Pym was first found in Somerset where the family can be "traced to Philip Pym, of Brymmore, 12 Edward IV." [2] Indeed, there is much debate about the origin of this name. Another reference claims "considering that Eufemia is fairly common in the Hundredorum Rolls, that Pimme is feminine, and Phemie is still the nickname, it all but certain that we have here the solution of the name in question. Personally I have no doubt that this derivation is correct. " [1]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists the following: Eufemmia de Neville in Lincolnshire; Katerina Eufemme in Norfolk; Pimme, widow of Peter Seman in Cumberland; Bartholomew filius Pimme in Hunts; Chun Pimme in Cambridge and finally, Henry Pimme in Cambridge. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, list Agnes Pyme and Johannes Pymson. [3]

In Somerset, Roger Pym was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) [4] "The family of John Pym, the regicide, were of respectable antiquity in Somersetshire, being traced to Philip Pym, of Brymmore, co. Somerset, 12. Edward IV. " [2]

Early History of the Pym family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pym research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1440, 1584, 1615, 1641, 1643, 1648, 1660, 1663 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Pym History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pym Spelling Variations

Pym has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Pym have been found, including Pym, Pymm, Pyme, Pymme, Pim, Pimm, Pimme and others.

Early Notables of the Pym family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Pym (1584-1643), English statesman from Bridgwater, Somerset who moved for the impeachment of advisers to Charles

Ireland Migration of the Pym family to Ireland

Some of the Pym 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 Pym migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Pyms to arrive on North American shores:

Pym Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Pym, who settled in Virginia in 1673
Pym Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Pym, who arrived in New England in 1715 [5]
  • Emanuel Pym, who arrived in Virginia in 1734

Australia Pym migration to Australia +

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

Pym Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Pym, (b. 1819), aged 29, English farm labourer who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda, he died in 1899 [6]
  • George Pym, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Henry Moore"

West Indies Pym 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. [7]
Pym Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Henry Pym, who settled in Barbados in 1668

Contemporary Notables of the name Pym (post 1700) +

  • Ernest Frederick Pym (b. 1935), English professional footballer
  • John Pym (1584-1643), English parliamentarian
  • Barbara Pym (1913-1980), English writer
  • Sir William Pym (1772-1861), Scottish-born, military surgeon, son of Joseph Pym of Pinley, near Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, elder brother of Sir Samuel Pym
  • Sir Samuel Pym (1778-1855), British admiral, son of Joseph Pym of Pinley in Warwickshire, brother of Sir William Pym
  • John Frederick Pym (b. 1900), rugby union player who represented Australia
  • Walter Ruthven Pym (1856-1908), British colonial bishop
  • Catherine Pym (b. 1921), Australian Olympic fencer
  • Hugh Pym (b. 1959), British journalist and author
  • Horace Pym (1844-1896), British confidential solicitor, book collector and editor
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. B R Pym, British WT Tel, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [8]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  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. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  8. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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