Surname Pailing - Meaning and Origin
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Pailing: What does the surname Pailing mean?
The last name Pailing is derived from the Middle English word paille, meaning “overseer” or “steward of the estate”. It is believed to have originated from the Old French palefrenier, meaning “manager of horses” or master-of-horses. It was mostly used to describe a person who managed the affairs of a household, estate, or manor. The surname Pailing may also have derived from the word “palings” which was an old term for an enclosure.
Pailings were important in medieval times and served many different roles. They were responsible for the livelihood and well-being of the tenants of the manor, and they were expected to maintain consumable essentials such as grain, salt and bacon for their lord’s household. In addition, they were the chief negotiators for any trade negotiations and the master of arms in case of any disturbances. They were also responsible for the collection and distribution of rents, taxes, and tithes – something that would have been especially important to a lord in medieval times.
The name Pailing is not overly common, but those who hold the name might expect to find that it has come from an individual or family of some importance in manorial society. The holders of this surname often display a strong and proud sense of tradition and the responsibility to keep their families’ cozy reputation alive.
Order DNA origin analysisPailing: Where does the name Pailing come from?
The Pailing surname can be found today mainly in the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United Kingdom, there are Pailing families located mainly in the south of England, in particular in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Hampshire. In Australia, the Pailing name is most commonly found in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
The Pailing surname is believed to be of English origin and the earliest known recorded spelling was found in 1327 when Thomas Paileng was mentioned in the “Devon Subsidy Roll” for that county. It seems to have derived from either the old English term “paelmann”, meaning “villager” or from the Latin “pallium”, meaning “cloak”. It is thought that the surname Pailing is linked to farmhands or to those involved in the trade of wool and cloth.
Today, those carrying the Pailing surname may have Anglo-Saxon ancestry and descend from a working class background. Although the population of families carrying the Pailing name is small, it is significant enough to create and sustain local family roots in a number of small towns in England, Australia, and elsewhere in the world.
Variations of the surname Pailing
The surname Pailing is of English origin. Although the name is rare, it has several variants and surnames of the same origin. Variations of the name include Pawling, Paling, and Payling.
The most common variations of this surname, in turn, have additional spellings. Pawling is often spelled Palling or Pawlin, while Paling is sometimes spelled Payton, Paylin, Paiton, or Paitlin.
The various spellings of the surname could indicate someone of Dutch descent. Payling is possibly an anglicised form of the Dutch surname Paalen, meaning 'of the Poles' or 'from Poland'. This could indicate that someone with this surname is descended from a Dutch migrant to England with Polish ancestry.
Pailing could also be a variation of the Old British personal name Paelin, derived from the Latin Paulinus. An example of someone with this name is John Pailin, recorded in Somerset in 1260.
In addition to the various spellings of Pailing, there are also several surnames that are derived from or heavily associated with the same origin. These include Pawley, P ownsend, Paisley, Povey, and Powles.
It is important to note that with all surnames, additional research into variants and spellings is always recommended. This can be done through known records from family history or researching whether a certain spelling originated from a different language. Doing so can help discover more about an individual's ancestry, as well as confirm whether variants or alternate spellings are, in fact, associated with the same origin.
Famous people with the name Pailing
- John Pailing: English cricketer who played for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club during the early 20th century.
- Louis Pailing: Award-winning British architect, known for his work in designing a variety of public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and other public facilities.
- Alexander Pailing: British actor who appeared in over 70 feature films and is best known for his role as Bishop William Barlow on the television series "The Tudors".
- Will Pailing: British professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who is currently signed to the professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
- Doug Pailing: Former British-Australian financial journalist and foreign correspondent for Reuters and the BBC.
- Tracy Pailing: British-Australian architect, best known for designing the La Trobe University Student Union Building in Melbourne, Australia.
- Dave Pailing: Sculptor and ceramic artist from Britain, known for his abstract sculptures and installations that incorporate vivid colours and organic shapes.
- Ryan Pailing: British ABC News correspondent who's been covering stories from war zones to the royal family.
- Johnnie Pailing: British comedian and actor, possibly best known for his roles as the British hype man in the "Go Compare" ads and as Matt Lucas' character's sidekick in "Little Britain".
- Natasha Pailing: British-born fashion designer and member of the Designers Council of Australia, known for her cutting-edge dress designs and dresses for special occasions.