This interesting surname, with variant spellings Parminter, Parmeter, Parmiter and Pammenter, derives from the Old French "parmentier", from "parement", fitting, finishing, a derivative of "parare", to prepare or adorn, and was originally given as an occupational name to a maker of facings and trimmings for items of dress. The surname was first recorded in the latter part of the 12th Century (see below). Other early recordings include William le Parmenter (Oxfordshire 1204); Robert le Parminter (Worcestershire, 1221), Isabella Parmenter, in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, and William Parmater, in the 1381 Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk. Recordings from London Church Registers include the marriage of Anne Parmenter and William Lyons in St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street, on November 13th 1559, and the christening of Pierre, son of Jean Parmentier and Catherine De Vauaseur, in the French Huguenot Church, Threadneedle Street on September 4th 1636. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Parmenter, which was dated 1177, in the "Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.

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