SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "P"

[Page], [Paisley], [Palister], [Palmer], [Parkinson], [Parks], [Parry], [Parsons], [Partington], [Paterson], [Patrick], [Patton], [Payne], [Pearce], [Pearson], [Pen], [Penn], [Pennington], [Percy], [Perkins], [Peters], [Petit], [Philips], [Pierce],  [Pinder], [Piper], [Pitman], [Plowright], [Plumber], [Pol], [Porter], [Portman], [Potter], [Poulter], [Powell], [Power], [Poynter], [Pound], [Prentice], [Prescott], [Price], [Prichard], [Proctor], [Prosser], [Pugh], [Purcell]

PAGE - Possibly derived from the word pageantry and the associated medieval post of a "page" who was employed within noble households and the royal courts. As in many other cases, perhaps the post or position became linked to the individual and their family. Variations would include PAIGE and PAGETT.

PAISLEY - Commonly associated with the place name in Scotland and the leading Ulster Unionist leader in N Ireland, the Reverend Ian Paisley, whose early ancestors would have come from Scotland, possibly during the reign of William of Orange.

PALISTER - An early occupational title for a Park-Keeper which undoubtedly attached itself to those employed in the role, giving us the modern family name. An alternative spelling would be PALLISTER.

PALMER - Thought to originate from an English nickname for a man who had been, or claimed to have been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and who brought back a palm branch as proof of his journey. Its introduction into the English language possibly came with the French knights of William the Conqueror.

PARKINSON - Said to originate from “Parkin’s – son”, with “Parkin” being a version of the Christian forename Peter, which has its own roots in the Latin name “Petrus”. In its earliest forms the surname was “Parkynson” or “Parkyngson” and has modern day variations including Parkerson and Parkins.

PARKS - The surname is possibly related to the similarly founded Parker, which no doubt had its early foundations in the post of "Park Keeper" a position thought to have been initiated by Norman Earls and Barons who set aside lands as Deer Parks where they could hunt. Variation include Parkes

PARRY - Thought to have originated as a Welsh surname and derived from "AP" or "son of" Harry, which has been altered and contracted to its present day form.

PARSONS - Although the title "Parson" is generally associated with religion, its adoption as a family name may well be due to its identification of a son with his father who was employed in that role. ie: Parsons son = Parsons.

PARTON – It has been suggested that the name has its roots in the medieval name for a Pear Orchard or enclosed garden, which attached itself to several English settlements of the period.

PARTINGTON - The "ton" suffix denotes the Anglo Saxon meaning for a protected homestead or enclosure.

PATERSON - This surname, commonly associated with Scotland is thought to be a variation of the English family name Peterson ie: Peter's son = Peterson = Paterson. Variations include Patterson.

PATRICK - Although commonly associated with a Christian first name, its origins are thought to be derived from the Latin title Patricius, meaning or denoting a member of the patrician class or social aristocracy.

PATTON - Thought to be a variation of the English and Scottish surname Pate, which is itself derived from the forename Pat, a shortened form of Patrick. The "ton" suffix might derive from the Anglo Saxon word for an enclosure.

PAYNE - A name which is thought to have originated from the French "Paien" and which possibly came to Britain at the time of the Conquest.

PEARCE - The family name is said to have its roots in the early common forename "Piers", which itself is another form for the Christian name Peter.

PEARSON - Possibly a variation or corruption of "Pierces son" which is derived from the early Norman first name "Piers". 

PEN - Thought to have originated from the Cornish word meaning "head" and may be a possible origin for modern family names carrying this 3 letter prefix. eg: PENNANT.

PENN - One source suggests an origin relating to the Welsh/Celtic word meaning "of the peak"

PENNINGTON - The suffix "ton" is derived from the Anglo Saxon word for a protected homestead or enclosure. The prefix "Penn" may be derived from either of the two sources shown above.

PERCY - The extended Percy family were renowned as an influential noble dynasty throughout the 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries of English history. Titled as the Dukes of Northumberland, the family came into direct conflict with the monarch Richard II as well as his usurper and successor Henry IV. Henry "Hotspur" Percy led an unsuccessful rebellion against the usurper King Henry Bolingbroke which culminated in the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, which saw Percy and his supporters defeated. 

PERKINS - The "kin" suffix is thought to originate from the word "kinsman". The prefix is thought to represent a contraction of the common forenames Piers or Peter which would literally mean that the surname Perkins would mean "Peter's kinsman". Perkin, in the singular, was also used as a personal forename, the most notable of which was PERKIN WARBECK, who was a renowned character in the history of the English monarchy. It is also suggested that Perkin actually describes a young boy with the forename Peter, but who is referred to in this pet or affectionate term, or possibly in its variant form of PETERKIN.

PETIT - A descriptive name, which is thought to originate from the French word "Petite" and which identifies someone who is small or young.

PETERS - Derived from the common practice of identifying father and son ie: Peters' son = Peters, as well as Peterson. Variations include Paterson and Patterson. The forename Peter is a Biblical one and which undoubtedly came to Britain during the later Roman occupation or with the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 5th and 6th Centuries.

PHILIPS - The origins for the first name Philip are thought to be found with the Greek Pphillippos and said to mean "horse lover". The additional "s" on the first name denotes the recognition and relationship of father and son ie: "Philip's son" = Philips. Variations include; Philipson, Phillips, Phillipson.

PHELPS - This occasional family name is thought to originate from a corruption and contraction of the first name Philip, which has been altered over a period of time.

PIERCE - Thought to be a derivation of the Norman first name Piers which arrived in Britain with the forces of William the Conqueror in the 11th Century and which is a variation of the first name Peter. Variations of the name include; Pearson, Piercy.

PINDER - Associated with the word PINFOLD, the family name is thought to derive from the occupational title for a dog-catcher or a pound-keeper.

PIPER - Musicians of all types have existed from the earliest times, notably within royal courts and noblemen's homes. It is likely therefore that the title or position of a particular musician cum minstrel has attached itself to that particular individual and his immediate family. However, it is also suggested that PIPER was an occupational title for an Inn-Keeper and might represent another origin for the family name?

PITMAN - Possibly an occupational title for individuals who dug pits, shafts or mines. Mankind has been excavating and mining precious metals and ores from the earliest times and it is entirely likely that certain individuals within a community or regional area would have become specialists in the art of mining or excavations. In later centuries and with the advent of industrial coal-mining, the name has become inextricably linked to that particular employment.

PLOWRIGHT - An occupational title associated with those that produced ploughs and other early farming or agricultural equipment which would have been used to cultivate the land.  

PLUMBER - The provision of internal and external water supplies is known to have existed from Roman times and no doubt this modern surname derives its early origins from the people engaged within that trade and has become inextricably linked to those individuals and their families.

POL - Thought to have originated from the Cornish word meaning "pool" and may be a possible origin for modern regional family names carrying this 3 letter prefix.

PORTER - Another version of "carrier" and possibly derived from the word "Portage". The prefix "Port" is thought to have originated with the Old English word for "market town".

PORTMAN - The "Port" prefix may relate to the Old English word for a "market town" with the "Man" suffix originating from the Anglo Saxon "Mann" meaning a "man". The surname may simply have attached itself to someone who lived and worked within one of the many medieval market towns which existed throughout Britain.   

POTTER - Most commonly associated with manufacturers of clay based pottery vessels which has been practiced from the earliest times and was no doubt undertaken by specific individuals within early British settlements.

POULTER - The surname is possibly associated with and derived from the Poultry trade and the "Poulterer's" who commonly raised and sold game and domestic fowl, including Chickens, Geese, Ducks, Turkeys, etc.

POUND - Along with its alternative, POUNDER, the name is thought to stem from the early English word "Pund" which was thought to describe an animal enclosure and a POUNDER was possibly a term used to identify a person who kept such an enclosure.

POWELL - The "well" suffix would indicate an early association with the site of a water well, although it is much more likely that the name derives from the Welsh family connection AP "son of" Howell (from the Welsh forename Hywel) = Powell.

POWER - When originating from an Irish root, the family name is thought to derive from the Gaelic name "Paor" which meant "poor or needy". Where a French Norman derivation applies, the name is thought to have its roots as a locative name, given to those who originated from the town of Pois in Picardy.

POYNTER - The unusual family name, which might be spelled POINTER, is thought to originate from an occupational title describing someone employed as a lace-maker.

PRENTICE - The family name possibly has an association with the term "apprentice", typically a young man who is indentured into a trade or craft.

PRESCOTT - The "Pres" prefix may have its foundations in the word "Priest", with the "Cott" suffix identifying his home or accommodation ie: Cottage, or possibly from the early word "Cote".

PRICE - The likely origins for the name is in the early Welsh term for "son of Rhys" which would have been altered and amended over time to its present form ap Rhys = Prhys = Pryce = Price. Variants include Pryce, Prees, Preece,  

PRICHARD - Another Welsh origins surname, reflecting AP "son of" Richard. Variants incl: Pritchard

PROCTOR - Proctor is thought to denote an occupational name that otherwise described a steward, and is a contraction of the Old French word "procurateur", which is itself derived from the Latin word "procuratorem" meaning manager or agent. The title or name was commonly used for solicitors and royal officials such as tax collectors or agents, who were authorised to collects alms. An individual called Johanna le Proketour was noted on the 1301 Subsidy Roll in Yorkshire and illustrates the extensive history of this family name. It is still commonly associated with Scotland, presumably on the basis of the title "procurator" still being a modern day title within the Scottish legal system and the continuing common use of the title of Proctor. The 1881 Angus census notes a number of "Proctor's" living in the region at the time (source: Alan Proctor: Angus, Scotland)

PROSSER - Reflecting the typically Welsh habit of associating father and son = AP "son of" Rosser = Prosser.

PUGH - Originating from the Welsh AP "son of" Hugh which has subsequently been contracted. The first name Hugh came to Britain with the Norman forces of William the Conqueror. The 2nd Norman Earl of Chester was Hugh D'Avranches aka Hugh "Lupus".

PURCELL - Possibly derived from an an occupational name which described a "Swineherd" which had its foundation in the French word "Pourcel" which related to pigs.

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