Pillifant - Name

Like "Bullevant" this name originally recorded in Cornwall as "Pellamonter" (see below), is of French and probably Breton locational origins. Over the past five centuries the spelling has undergone many changes including Pellamount (1605, St. Columb Major, Cornwall), Pellamonuten (1624, St. Enoder, Cornwall), Pellamountain (1658, St. Gluvias, Cornwall) and Polamontayne (1697, Breage, Cornwall). No such place as "Pellmonter" has been positively identified in France, but this is not unusual as the "English" spelling would have been based upon a phonetic interpretation. The name seems to have rapidly moved to Devon where it underwent a further change to the "modern" variants, one Andrew Pellefant being recorded at Hartland, Devon on August 8th 1624, whilst Jane Pillifant married Peter Jeffrey at Blach Torrington, Devon on May 7th 1718. A later recording was that of Richard Pillifant, who was christened at Llansamlet, Glamorgan, South Wales, on March 2nd 1860. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jone Pellamonter, which was dated January 1st 1577, marriage to Richard Conie, at St. Columb Minor, Cornwall, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.