From Where Does The Surname Originate? ^{meaning and history}

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Meaning & HistoryRecorded in several forms including Pim, Pimme, Pym, and Pymm, this is a surname which at various times has been prominent in the history of England. The name itself is of medieval English origin and is baptismal. It derives from the medieval female given name, 'Pymme' which is a shortened or pet form of "Euphemia", a Greek name, introduced into Europe by the returning Crusaders of the 11th century. Composed of the elements "eu", meaning "well", and "phenai" to speak, the name was adopted by Christians, who used it in the sense of "praise God" or "good repute".

The name is said to have been borne by a 4th-century martyr, but its popularity is much later. As a personal name, it is first recorded in England in 1204, when 'Pimme, the son of Sirith' appears in the Pipe Rolls of for the county of Staffordshire, and later in 1246, Pimme, the forester, is recorded in the Assize Court Rolls of Lancashire. Other early recordings include Edmund Pymme of Wakefield, Yorkshire in the citizens roll of 1307. John Pym (1584 - 1643), was regarded as the leading parliamentarian of his day, and chief opponent of King Charles 1st (1600 - 1649). Had Pym lived, he may well have occupied the place in history held by Oliver Cromwell. Other famous name holders include the brothers Sir Samuel and Sir William Pym, the first an admiral, the second the Army Inspector-General of Hospitals between the years 1800 and 1850. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Pimme, which was dated 1250, in the Fines Rolls of Nottinghamshire. This was during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, but known as 'The Frenchman', 1216-1272.

People

Alexander Pym Allison, a Nigerian business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and Co-Founder of Nitroneum Technologies Limited.

Anthony Pym, a translation studies scholar.

Arthur Gordon Pym, a fictional character from Edgar Allan Poe's novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket.

Barbara Pym, a British novelist.

Francis Pym, Baron Pym, a British politician who served in the House of Commons and was later given the title Baron Pym.

Hank Pym (aka Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket and the Wasp), a fictional superhero in the Marvel Universe.

John Pym, an English parliamentarian leader in the seventeenth century.

Magnus Pym, a fictional character in the John Le Carre novel A Perfect Spy.

Morgan Pym, a fictional character from The Collector.

Dr. Alexander Pym, A physician involved in some of the first clinical trials of combination of antiretroviral therapy. He completed his Ph.D. at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Alex is a member of AHRI Faculty and heads up a laboratory at the Institute. He is an Honorary Clinical Professor at University College London and an Honorary Associate Professor at University of KwaZulu-Natal.