This name is found throughout Western Europe, and was assumed by people who lived at localities called 'Paradise.' The name has a history of use by priories, abbeys and other religious bodies, probably to name areas of natural beauty, such as an orchard at the priory manor of Dingley called Paradyse. Other places sharing the name include a wharf in Calais, English France; a garden in Exeter and a house in Westminster called Paradyse and Helle.

• 1249. Andreas, abbas de Paradyso (Posen): Archive for Austrian history, vol. 89
• 1297. Andrew de Paradis (Southampton, Hampshire): Close Rolls, Edward I
• 1348. Herman Paradys (Lincolnshire): Close Rolls, Edward I
• 1415. John Paradys, archer: ICMA Muster Rolls
• 1597. Gilles, son of Richard Parradice, baptised: Highworth, Wiltshire Parish Registers
• 1599. John, son of Gyles Paradise, baptised: Ditcheat, Somerset Parish Registers

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Paradise.' It was seemingly as common to call a pretty spot 'a perfect Paradise' six centuries ago as to-day. The surname was taken from residence in some spot familiarly known as 'Paradise.'

'Item, do et lego Willielmo Clio raeo unum burgag in Sadlergate, et unum fardinum in tenura Ricardi Arnald juxta 'aradys emptum de Johanne Cuthbrrt': Will of Matilda Bowes, 1420 (DDD.).

John de Paradyshowe, Close Rolls, Richard II.

Anthony Paradise, Close Rolls Philip and Mary.

1564. Married — Rychard Paradyse to Elyzabeth Savage: St. Dionis Back- church.

John Paradise, 1622: Reg. Broad Chalke, Wiltshire.

Thomas Paradice, vicar of All Saints, Bristol, 1693: Barrett's Bristol.

1791. Married — George Paradice and Elizabeth Guppy: St. George, Hanover Square.

John Paradice or Paradise appears as servitor to Walter Reid, abbot of Kinloss, 1565, 1581 (Kinloss, p. 154; Laing, 1028). Paradise was the name given to a pleasure court in front of a monastery or cathedral.

(Anglo-French-Latin-Greek-Pers.) 1 Dweller at a Paradise, i.e. an open space or court by a monastery or church.

2 a pers. name [French paradis; Latin paradis-us, Greek παράδεισ-ος, a park, garden, or pleasure-ground-used in the Septuagint for the Garden of Eden: from the Zend] The surname Paradis is much commoner in France than Paradise (&c.) is in this country.

(French) One who played the part of Paradise in the ancient mystery plays.

Doubtless from a locality so named.

Perhaps the same as the Old German names Paradeus, Paradeo, Peradeo; from O. High German deo, dio, Anglo-Saxon theow, Goth. thius, a servant. But see Singleday.

(English), Paradijs (Dutch/Flemish), Paradise. (variant: Himmel.)

From the Flemish, from the French, Paradis; a personal name.

Paradise was the name of a gentle family of Bedford in the 17th century; the name is now rare, but its memory is perpetuated in the charitable bequests of that borough (M.).