PARCHMENT
Parchment
The surname Parchment is of English origin and is occupational in nature. It is derived from the Middle English word "parchemin," which means parchment, a material made from animal skin and used in medieval times for writing or printing documents. The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone involved in the production or use of parchment.
First recorded in the 13th century, the surname Parchment is not particularly common in modern-day Britain. Those who bear this surname may have ancestors who were parchment makers, scribes, or bookmakers, reflecting the importance of literacy and record-keeping in earlier periods of English history.
Like many surnames, Parchment may have undergone variations in spelling over the centuries, including Parchment, Parchmentt, and Parchmenter. Individuals with the surname Parchment can be found across various regions of the United Kingdom and beyond, as migration and social mobility have spread family names far and wide.
While the exact origins and history of the Parchment surname may vary from family to family, its connection to the craft of parchment-making and writing provides a glimpse into the roles and trades that were essential to the functioning of medieval society. Today, those who carry the surname Parchment continue to be part of a lineage that reflects the rich tapestry of British history and heritage.
There are approximately 540 people named Parchment in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Parchment.
Region of origin: Europe
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Jason
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Simon
- Zernie
Female
- Donna
- Jacqueline
- Kaveeta
- Lorna
- Marion
- Melissa
- Natalie
- Nicole
- Patricia
- Pauline
- Susan
- Virginia