Pargeter

Recorded as Pargeter, Pargetter, and Pargiter, this is a medieval English surname It is of occupational origins, and has a long and honourable history. "Pargetting" was a form of house decorating originally practised in the East Anglian region, but ultimately across the country, being at one time very popular in the West Midlands. It was in some ways similar to modern plastering, the object being to provide a smooth finish. The word derives from the French "par" meaning "all" and "jeter", to throw, the work being considered highly skilled and only performed by registered Guild members. It is clear that "pargetting" as a building system preceded the surname possibly by several centuries. The records of Corfe Castle in Dorset state that "Stephen the Dauber pargetted in the Long Chamber" in 1285, although the first proven name registrations are at least three hundred years later. The early name recordings include James Pergetor in the Fines Court rolls of Norfolk in 1535, whilst on November 2nd 1628, Rychard Pargiter was recorded at West Bromwich, Warwickshire, and William Pargiter and his wife Phebe, were witnesses at the christening of their son, also William, at Rowley Regis Church, Staffordshire in 1685. A coat of arms granted to the family has the blazon of a blue field, charged with a fess dancettee, between three hawks, all gold. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Pargiter. This was dated 1530, when he was the Lord Mayor of London, during the reign of King Henry V111th, 1509 - 1547. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.