PILGRIM
Pilgrim is an English surname that originated in the British Isles. The name derives from the Middle English word pilgrim, a term originally applied to a person who undertook a religious journey or pilgrimage. In the context of the Church of England, a pilgrimage was typically a visit to a holy site such as Jerusalem or Canterbury, places revered for their spiritual significance.
The surname was often bestowed as a nickname on individuals who had completed such a journey. By adopting the name, the bearer signalled a devout nature and a connection to the pilgrimage tradition, which was an important rite of Christian life in medieval England.
Historical records show a bewildering variety of spellings for the name, including Paragreen, Pelerin, Pigram, Piegrome, Pigeram, Piggrem, Peggram, Peagram, Pilgrim and many others. These variants all stem from the Old French word pelegrin, which itself was derived from the Roman term peregrinus meaning *a traveller through the fields*. The evolution of these spellings reflects the linguistic transitions from Latin to Old French to Middle English.
The surname first appears in the late 12th century. The earliest confirmed instance is that of Hugo Pilegrim in 1185, recorded in the register of the Knight Templars of Warwickshire during the reign of King Henry the Eleventh, described as The Builder of Churches from 1154-1189. Subsequent early examples include William Pegerim or Pegrum of Dorset in 1201, Eustace Pelrim of Cambridgeshire in 1221, Robert Peregrine of Somerset in 1243, and Robert Pelgrim of Cambridgeshire in 1260.
Church registers from later centuries provide further evidence of the surname’s persistence. For instance, Jone Pilgrim is recorded as having married Thomas Maule at St. Dunstan’s Stepney on 25 September 1580, and Sarah Pigram of Nazeing in Essex is listed in 8 June 1643. These entries illustrate the name’s continued use within the English Christian community.
Accordingly, the surname Pilgrim is classed as a status name, reflecting a social or occupational attribute rather than a familial lineage. Its rich historical record, spanning from the late 1100s to at least the mid-1600s, underscores a tradition of devout travel and religious commitment in English society.
Typical given names associated with the Pilgrim surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Amanda
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jennifer
- Joan
- Julie
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- 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 Pilgrim in...
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There are approximately 2,833 people named Pilgrim in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,150th most common surname in Britain. Around 44 in a million people in Britain are named Pilgrim.
Surname type: Status name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Pilgrim
- Andy Pilgrim - Racing driver American racing driver
- Richard Pilgrim - Cricketer
- Chris Pilgrim - Rugby union player
- Dennis Pilgrim - Bermudian cricketer
- Eleanor Pilgrim - Golfer
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.