PARKINSON

The surname Parkinson is primarily of English origin, with a linguistic root that can be traced back to the Greek word petros, meaning “rock.” This derivation finds its way into the medieval given name Parkin or its variant Perkin, each being a diminutive form of the biblical name Peter.

From a patronymic standpoint, Parkinson literally denotes “son of Parkin” or “son of Peter.” The name was employed to indicate a familial connection to a forebear bearing the given name Parkin or Peter, both of which were widely popular within the Christian communities of the Middle Ages. The popularity of the name Peter is partly attributable to St. Peter, the apostle whose symbolic representation as a rock underpins the Greek etymology.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the fourteenth century. In 1382 a man named William Perkynsone is recorded in Warwickshire, and in 1540 an Emmot Parkyngson appears in Whitby, Yorkshire. The name appears in the Oxford University Register of 1564 under the entry of Robert Parkinson. These documentary references demonstrate that the patronymic form had become established during the late Middle Ages.

Spelling variations were common, and contemporaneous records show a range that includes Parkyn, Parken, Perkin and Perkin. The earliest documented spelling in Yorkshire is that of Johannes Parkynson in the Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, during the reign of King Richard of Bordeaux.

Individuals bearing the surname also appear in accounts of early emigration. A notable example is Dorithie Parkinson, who was listed among the inhabitants of Elizabeth City, Virginia, prior to 16 February 1623. Such references highlight the dispersal of the name beyond the British Isles during the seventeenth century.

The family has been associated with a heraldic achievement described as a red shield with a chevron; between the chevron there are three silver ostrich feathers together with five black mullets. The crest features a cubit arm, vested in gold, bearing five ermine spots in saltire and a cuff of silver. The arm, in proper colour, holds a red ostrich feather. This coat of arms has been granted to bearers of the name and reflects the family’s standing within the heraldic traditions of England.

In sum, the surname Parkinson encapsulates a lineage that is both linguistically grounded in a Greek root and culturally situated within the Christian medieval context of England. The name’s evolution from a given name diminutive to a hereditary surname illustrates the broader patterns of surname development in the British Isles during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Typical given names associated with the Parkinson surname

Male

• Alan
• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Richard
• Robert
• Stephen

Female

• Angela
• Christine
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Helen
• Janet
• Julie
• Margaret
• Mary
• Nicola
• Patricia
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Parkinson in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Did you know?

According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Parkinson are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Parkinson

• Katherine Parkinson - Actress
• Michael Parkinson - Television and radio personality
• Craig Parkinson - Actor
• Phil Parkinson - Football player and manager
• Cecil Parkinson - Politician (1931 to 2016)
• C. Northcote Parkinson - Naval historian (1909 to 1993)
• Sacha Parkinson - Actress
• Mary Parkinson - Journalist
• Robin Parkinson - TV actor
• Matt Parkinson - Cricketer
• Gary Parkinson - Football player
• James Parkinson - Surgeon, apothecary, geologist, paleontologist, and political activist (1755 to 1824)
• Norman Parkinson - Photographer (1913 to 1990)
• Callum Parkinson - Cricketer
• Richard B. Parkinson - Egyptologist
• Joe Parkinson - Football player
• Georgina Parkinson - Ballet dancer (1938 to 2009)
• Abby-Mae Parkinson - Cyclist
• Brian Parkinson - Football player
• Michaël Parkinson - Volleyball player

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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