Find out how popular the last name Parchment is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Parchment.

Parchment, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Parchment surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parchment in America

Parchment is the 23604th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parchment surname appeared 1,075 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Parchment.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parchment to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Parchment

The surname Parchment is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "parchemin," which referred to a person who made or sold parchment, a writing material made from animal skins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Parchment can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1182, which mentions a John Parcheminer. The name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a William Parchment is listed.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Parchmener, Parchemenor, and Parcheminour, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation at the time. The name was particularly prevalent in areas where the parchment-making trade flourished, such as London and the surrounding counties.

During the Tudor period, the Parchment family played a notable role in the city of London. John Parchment (1520-1582) was a prominent merchant and alderman who served as the Sheriff of London in 1567. His son, William Parchment (1558-1624), followed in his footsteps and became a successful businessman and member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners.

In the 17th century, the name Parchment was associated with several individuals who made significant contributions to various fields. Thomas Parchment (1635-1692) was a renowned English clergyman and author, known for his theological works. Another notable figure was Elizabeth Parchment (1678-1743), a skilled calligrapher and illuminator whose intricate works were highly sought after by the nobility.

The 18th century saw the rise of Richard Parchment (1722-1795), a celebrated architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Parchment Mansion, which still stands today. Meanwhile, Samuel Parchment (1755-1823) was a respected scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient languages.

As the centuries passed, the surname Parchment continued to be represented in various fields, from literature and the arts to science and politics. Notable individuals include the poet Emily Parchment (1845-1921), whose works captured the essence of Victorian England, and Sir William Parchment (1879-1958), a pioneering chemist and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parchment

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Parchment.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Parchment was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Parchment has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Parchment was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Parchment, please contact us.

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