Surname Pelgrave - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pelgrave: What does the surname Pelgrave mean?
The last name Pelgrave is of English or French origin, suggesting the family was originally found in either England or Normandy, France. The literal meaning of Pelgrave is 'from a great cavity' or 'from a great mine' – so it likely first referred to someone who lived or worked near an open-pit mine. Over time, the name may have evolved to describe someone who worked in the mining industry, or one who simply lived near a deep excavation site.
In its earliest recorded use, the surname is found in England in the year 1245, when a William de Pelgrave was registered as a lawyer in London. Although this records the earliest instance of the Pelgrave family's usage, earlier origins are likely, as many surnames developed from common words and titles in the language of the particular region in which the bearer lived.
In the present day, Pelgrave is common in England, as well as in some areas of Europe and the United States, although there is no clear pattern to its usage. The name is generally found in families of professional backgrounds, with notable Pelgraves recorded in banking, law and academia.
Overall, the surname Pelgrave reflects a multi-faceted origin. Its basic root meaning has been drawn from a physical element of nature, while the family's present usage likely reflects a professional background and a long history of honorable ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisPelgrave: Where does the name Pelgrave come from?
The surname Pelgrave is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is also present in some other English-speaking countries, particularly in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, United States, Canada, and Australia. The last name is essentially a variant of the French name Pélissier, which is derived from the Old French word pelisse, meaning “coat of fur or skin”.
By comparing geographic distributions of surnames, Parr found that whatever the origin of Pelgrave, it appears to have been confined mainly to the south-east of England, with a few outliers further away. This region was almost certainly the home of the majority of people with this name in 12th or 13th century England.
In modern times, it is most commonly found in southern England. According to the 1881 England and Wales Census, the largest concentration of the surname was in Hampshire and Wiltshire. At that time, approximately 0.003% of the population in England and Wales was recorded with the name. Today, the surname is still considered to be rare, though data from the Office of National Statistics shows it to have increased slightly in England and Wales since then.
Variations of the surname Pelgrave
The surname Pelgrave has a few variations, spellings and surnames associated with its origin. Possible variants, spellings and alternative surnames stemming from the Pelgrave surname include: Pelgrane, Pelgren, Peglow, Peelgrave, Plegrave, Pulegrave, and Pelgraben.
The Pelgrave surname is believed to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon language as early as the 13th century. Some sources suggest that it is derived from the Medieval English Pelgrome, meaning a dweller by the pool or stream. Other sources suggest that the surname could be derived from the Old English word plega, which meant meadow.
The spelling of the Pelgrave name was not standardized until well into the 19th century. Before this, altered spellings were used in documents, such as parish registers, wills, census records, immigration records, etc. Because of this, various spellings of the surname can be seen throughout historical records, which has led to the different variants and spellings that exist today.
Variants of the surname that arise due to improper translation are also found in other languages, such as Dutch or German. The Dutch derived spelling is either Pelgrom or Pelgrum, whereas the German variant is Pelgram or Pelgerm.
The Pelgrave surname is found throughout the English-speaking world, with particular concentrations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Pelgrave
- Sir Maurice Pelgrave (1911–2002): British Labour Party politician and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons from 1973–80.
- Peter Pelgrave (born 1945): British actor known for roles in The Bill, Peak Practice and others.
- Sebastian Pelgrave (1818–1900): English trade unionist, journalist, editor and MP for Bolton and Keighley.
- John Pelgrave Skeane (1835–1917): English barrister and Conservative MP for Kidderminster.
- Viv Pelgrave (born 1936): British theatre producer who is best known for presenting the plays of Shakespeare and musicals in the UK.
- Anna Maria Cicilia Pelgrave (1845–1914): American author, educator, and suffragist.
- Howard Pelgrave (1855–1930): English sculptor and author.
- August Pelgrave (1919–2008): German-born British artist and sculptor.
- Richard Pelgrave (1744–1809): English physician and writer.
- Fergus Pelgrave (1888–1970): English cricket captain for Northern Counties and the British Isles.