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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • German : from a medieval personal name Palmatius, borne by a saint who died in 286.
  • Northwest German : topographic name from Middle High German palme, balme ‘pussy willow’, the tree that traditionally provided the branches for Palm Sunday processions, or habitational name from a house distinguished by the sign of a palm tree.
  • German : from a reduced and altered form of a personal name formed with Old High German bald ‘bold’, ‘brave’ as its first element.
  • Swedish : ornamental name from palm ‘palm tree’.
  • Dutch : nickname for someone who had been on pilgrimage to the Holy Land (see Palmer), from palm ‘palm tree’.
  • Dutch (Van Palm) : habitational name denoting someone from any of several minor places called Palm or Palme.
  • Translation of French Lapalme.

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