Pegram Family

Pegram Family Origins in Europe

A Journey from England to the American Colonies

The Pegram family story begins long before their arrival in America. Historical evidence suggests that the first known Pegram to reach the New World—George Pegram—emigrated from England in the 1660s. To better understand this pivotal move, it's helpful to examine the social and political landscape that shaped their European roots.

England and the greater European continent had been defined for centuries by political upheaval, poverty, warfare, and epidemics. This volatile environment set the stage for migration, as families sought new opportunities abroad.

Timeline of English History

Understanding the broader context of English history adds depth to the Pegram family's early background. Here is a concise timeline of major eras that influenced the cultural and political world they left behind:

• Prehistory (Before 43 A.D.): Tribal Celtic communities lived without written records.

• Roman Britain (43 – 410 A.D.): Emperor Claudius’s Roman forces ruled Britain for nearly 400 years.

• Anglo-Saxon Period (410 – 1066): Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) displaced the Celts into Ireland and Scotland.

• Norman England (1066 – 1485): After the Battle of Hastings, the Normans—descendants of Viking settlers and French nobility—ushered in the Medieval era.

• Tudor Period (1485 – 1603): Marked by the rise of Henry VII, ending with Elizabeth I.

• Stuart Era (1603 – 1714): The union of England and Scotland under James VI brought new unity and conflict.

• Georgian Period (1714 – 1837): The Hanoverian kings brought German lineage to the English crown.

• Victorian Era (1837 – 1901): Queen Victoria’s rule saw industrial, scientific, and colonial expansion.

• 20th Century (1901 – 2000): Modern Britain emerged through two world wars and rapid technological progress.

The Origins of the Pegram Surname

Before 1100 A.D., most Europeans had only a single given name. As populations grew, it became necessary to adopt surnames to distinguish individuals. These names often derived from:

• Occupations (e.g., Carpenter)

• Geographical landmarks (e.g., Waters)

• Patronymics (e.g., John, son of William = John Williams)

• Religious or descriptive origins

The Pegram surname likely emerged during the Norman period, indicating a possible French connection. The earliest known record is of Hugo Pilegrim, noted in 1185 in the Knight Templars' registry during the reign of King Henry II. The name “Pilegrim” is one of many variations that evolved over time:

Variants: Pegram, Peagrin, Pegrum, Pigram, Pilgrim, Peregrim — all stemming from the Latin peregrinus, meaning “foreigner” or “pilgrim.”

This could reflect either geographic migration or religious pilgrimage, suggesting the early Pegrams were travelers or spiritual seekers. Historically, the Pegram name clustered most densely around Essex County, England, but was also found throughout England and Scotland.

The Pegram Family in the Modern Era

As of recent estimates【P1-1】, approximately 7,000 individuals worldwide carry the Pegram surname:

• United States: 5,514

• England: 928

• Wales: 29

• Ireland: 14

• Other Countries: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada

This widespread distribution reflects centuries of migration, colonization, and interconnected family lines.

Opinions & Footnotes

Despite extensive research, genealogists have not yet conclusively linked Pegram families in colonial America with their exact ancestors in Europe. Therefore, the upcoming chapters focus specifically on:

• George Pegram, one of the earliest known immigrants

• His descendants, leading to Nathaniel Harper Pegram, Jr. of Carrollton, IL

While other early American Pegrams may exist, they fall outside the scope of this research.

Many online resources—such as patch.net—document over 20,000 descendants of George Pegram. However, we do not attempt to verify those lines individually. Much of the documented lineage used here has been independently validated by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

P1-1 Current data was obtained from the internet at https://forebears.io/surnames/pegram