This unusual and interesting name is of Norman origin and is a variant form of the occupational surname "Parmenter", also found as "Parminter", "Pammenter", and "Parmeter". The name is descriptive of a maker of facings and trimmings, a tailor with specialist skills. The derivation is from the Olde French word "par(e)mentier", from "parement", meaning fitting, finishing ultimately derived from the Latin "paramentum", a derivation of "parare" meaning "to prepare, adorn". Richard Pemment was married to Elizabeth Gardiner on the 12th July 1733, at St. Bride's, Fleet St. London, and one Eliza, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Pamment, was christened on the 13th February 1816 at Greenwich, Kent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Pamment, married Richard Walter, which was dated 8th June 1612, Marden, Kent, during the reign of King James 1, of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603 - 1625. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.