Palmer is an English surname, probably from the Anglo-Norman nickname Palmer(e), variant form of the (Old) French name Palmier, Paulmier (Modern French surnames Paulmier, Paumier). They mean "pilgrim" and derive from the palm branch which was a token of a Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Notable people with the surname "Palmer"
A A. Laurie Palmer, American artist A. Mitchell Palmer, (1872–1936), American politician A. N. Palmer (1860–1927), American inventor Abbie Palmer (born 1997), New Zealand squash player Abiah W. Palmer (1835–1881), American politician Abraham Palmer, American geneticist Abraham J. Palmer (1847–1922), American physician Abram Smythe Palmer (1844–1917), Irish lecturer Acalus Lockwood Palmer (1820–1899), Canadian politician Ada Palmer (born 1981), American historian Adele Palmer (1915–2008), American costume designer Adrian Palmer (1951–2023), Scottish politician Aiden Palmer (born 1987), English footballer Aimee Palmer (born 2000), English footballer Alan Palmer (1926–2022), British writer Alby Palmer (1885–1962), Australian rules footballer Alex Palmer (born 1996), English footballer Alexander Palmer (Australian politician) (1825–1901), Australian politician Alf Palmer (1891–1981), Australian aboriginal Alisa Palmer, Canadian theatre director Alison Palmer (born 1931), American priest and diplomat Allison R. Palmer (1927–2022), American paleontologist Amanda Palmer (born 1976), American musician Amanda Palmer (film executive) (born 1976), Australian film executive Ambrose Palmer (1910–1990), Australian rules footballer Amy Palmer (born 1975), American hammer thrower Anders Palmér (born 1960), Swedish footballer Andre Francis Palmer, Trinidadian-American professor Andrew Palmer (disambiguation page) Andy Palmer (born 1963), English engineer and businessman Angela Palmer, Scottish artist Àngels Cardona Palmer (born 1951), Spanish writer Anna Palmer (born 1982), American journalist Anna Campbell Palmer (1854–1928), American author Anne Palmer (cricketer) (1915–2006), Australian cricketer Ash Palmer (born 1992), English footballer Archdale Palmer (1865–1950), British tennis player Archdale Palmer (MP) (1661–1732), British politician Archie Palmer (1896–1985), American academic administrator Arnold Palmer (1929–2016), American golfer Ashlee Palmer (born 1986), American football player Ashley Palmer (actress) (born 1978), American actress Audrey Palmer (1932–2007), Zimbabwean field hockey player Austin Norman Palmer (1860–1927), American author
B Barbara Palmer (1640–1709), English social figure Barbara Jo Palmer (born 1949), American sports advocate Barclay Palmer (1932–2020), British shot putter Bascom H. Palmer (??–1916), American politician Beaufort Palmer (1919–2011), Australian aviator Becchara Palmer (born 1988), Australian beach volleyball player Bee Palmer (1894–1967), American singer Bell Elliott Palmer (1873–1947), American writer Ben Palmer (born 1976), British television director Benjamin Morgan Palmer (1818–1902), American minister Beriah Palmer (1740–1812), American politician Bernard Palmer (1914–1998), American author Bert Palmer (1901–1932), New Zealand rugby union footballer Bertha Palmer (1849–1918), American businesswoman Beth Palmer (1952–2019), American bridge player Betsy Palmer (1926–2015), American actress Billy Palmer (1888–1957), English footballer Billy Palmer (baseball), American baseball player B. J. Palmer (1882–1961), American chiropractor Blanca Palmer (born 1999), Spanish taekwondo athlete Bo Palmer (born 1990), Canadian football player Boris Palmer (born 1972), German politician Brad Palmer (born 1961), Canadian ice hockey player Bradley Palmer (1866–1946), American attorney Briar Palmer (born 1995), New Zealand footballer Brittney Palmer (born 1987), American model and ring girl Bryan Palmer (1899–1990), Australian rugby union footballer Bud Palmer (1921–2013), American basketball player Byron Palmer (1920–2009), American actor
C Caitriona Palmer (born 1972), Irish journalist Calvin Palmer (1940–2014), English footballer Camilla Palmer, British solicitor Cammy Palmer (born 2000), Northern Irish footballer Campbell Palmer (1936–2007), Canadian boxer Carl Palmer (born 1950), English musician Carlton Palmer (born 1965), English footballer Carlton Palmer (American football) (1895–??), American athletic coach Carol Palmer, British anthropologist Caroline Palmer, Canadian-American neuroscientist Carson Palmer (born 1979), American football player Cat Palmer, American photographer Cecil Palmer (1873–1915), English cricketer Charlotte Palmer (1762–1834), English teacher Christene Palmer, Australian actress Christopher Palmer (1946–1995), English composer Clare Palmer (born 1967), British philosopher Clarence Palmer (born 1943), American musician Clayton Palmer (1885–1956), English cricketer Clif Palmer (born 1937), Australian rules footballer Clifford Palmer, New Zealand academic administrator Clive Palmer (born 1954), Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer (musician) (1943–2014), British musician Cole Palmer (born 2002), English footballer Colin A. Palmer (1944–2019), Jamaican-American historian Corky Palmer (1954–2022), American baseball coach Coral Palmer (born 1942), New Zealand netball player Corliss Palmer (1899–1952), American actress Cornelius S. Palmer (1844–1932), American soldier, lawyer, and judge C. Phil Palmer, British palaeontologist Crawford Palmer (born 1970), French-American basketball player Curtis Palmer (born 1977), New Zealand wheelchair rugby footballer Cyril Palmer (1930–2013), Jamaican writer Cyrus M. Palmer (1887–1959), American politician
D Davinia Palmer, Welsh television presenter Dean Palmer (born 1968), American baseball player Debbie Palmer (1951–??), American disappeared child Debbie Palmer (speed skater) (born 1973), British speed skater Dee Palmer (1937–2026), British musician Deidre Palmer (born 1955/1956), Australian theologian Del Palmer, English singer-songwriter Derrell Palmer (1922–2009), American football player Derrick Palmer (born 1988/1989), American labor organizer Des Palmer (born 1931), Welsh footballer Diana Palmer (author) (born 1946), American author Dixeth Palmer (born 1968), Jamaican cricketer Dominique Palmer (born 1999), British activist Doris Palmer (1898–1993), New Zealand activist Dorothea Palmer (1908–1992), English-Canadian criminal Dorothy Binney Palmer (1888–1982), American explorer Doug Palmer (1930–1992), Australian rules footballer Douglas Palmer (born 1951), American politician
E Earl Palmer (1924–2008), American drummer Earl F. Palmer (1931–2023), American minister E. Clephan Palmer (1883–1954), British author Edmund Palmer (1781–1834), English naval officer Eduardo González Pálmer (1934–2022), Mexican footballer Edwin Palmer (1824–1895), English churchman Edwin Palmer (cricketer) (1869–1917), New Zealand cricketer Edwina Palmer (born 1955), English professor Eleanor Palmer (philanthropist) (??–1558), English philanthropist Eleanor A. Palmer (1889–1971), the real name of American actress Belle Adair Lady Eleanor Palmer (1718/20–1818), Irish Catholic heiress Elihu Palmer (1794–1806), American minister Elwin Palmer (1852–1906), British colonial administrator Ely Palmer (1887–1977), American diplomat Emily Palmer (??–1929), British politician Ephraim Laurence Palmer (1888–1970), American conservationist Erastus Dow Palmer (1817–1904), American sculptor Errol Palmer (born 1945), American basketball player Eustace Palmer, Sierra Leonian professor Eve Palmer (1916–1998), South African writer Eve Palmer (actress), New Zealand actress Eugene K. Palmer (born 1939) American fugitive Eugene Oliver Palmer (born 1955) Jamaican-born British artist
F Fanny Purdy Palmer (1839–1923), American author Farah Palmer (born 1972), New Zealand rugby union footballer Felicity Palmer (born 1944), English operatic soprano Fernando Garfella Palmer (1989–2020), Spanish filmmaker Florence Margaret Spencer Palmer (1900–1987), British composer Ford Palmer (born 1990), American runner Frank R. Palmer (1922–2019), British linguist Freddie Palmer (1921–2020), French jockey Fredrikke Palmer (1860–1947), Norwegian-American illustrator Frida Palmer (1905–1966), Swedish astronomer F. W. J. Palmer (1864–1947), British engineer
G Gail Palmer (born 1955), American film director Garrick Palmer (1933–2023), English painter, wood engraver, photographer and teacher Gerry Palmer (1930–1984), Canadian football player Gladys L. Palmer (1895–1967), American statistician Gladys Milton Palmer (1884–1952), British film producer Godfrey Palmer (politician) (1878–1933), English politician Gordon Palmer (1918–1989), English aristocrat Grace Palmer (born 1994), New Zealand actress Graham Palmer (1921–1994), British canoeist Greg Palmer (1947–2009), American television producer Greg Palmer (Australian filmmaker) (1909–??), Australian filmmaker Gregg Palmer (1927–2015), American actor Gregory V. Palmer (born 1954), American bishop Griffen Palmer (born 1995), Canadian singer and songwriter
H Haiden Palmer (born 1991), American basketball player Hank Palmer (born 1985), Canadian sprinter Hannah Borden Palmer (1843–1940), American activist and reformer Hans Palmer (1933–2023), American economist Harlan G. Palmer (1885–1956), American politician and newspaper publisher Harold E. Palmer (1877–1949), English linguist and phonetician Harrison Palmer (born 1996), English cricketer Harvard "Pete" Palmer Jr., American lobbyist Hayley Palmer (born 1989), New Zealand swimmer Helene Palmer (1928–2011), English actress Hellen Palmer (1920 –1977), One of the pen names of the female Brazilian writer and journalist Clarice Lispector Hollie Palmer (born 2001), Australian footballer Holly Palmer (born 1971), American singer-songwriter Horace W. Palmer (1878–1953), American politician Howard Palmer (1907–1969), Canadian curler Howard Palmer (sailor) (born 1946), Barbadian sailor Hubbel Palmer (born 1977), American screenwriter
I Innis N. Palmer (1824–1900), American army general
J Jackson Palmer (1867–1919), American politician Jahkoy Palmer (born 1994), Canadian rapper Jamie Palmer (born 1985), English footballer Jane Palmer (born 1946), British author Jared Palmer (born 1971), American tennis player Jarod Palmer (born 1986), American ice hockey player Jeffrey D. Palmer, American professor Jemma Palmer (born 1986), American model Jenny Palmer (born 1959), Northern Irish politician Jermaine Palmer (born 1986), English footballer Jerry Palmer (born 1943), American automotive designer Jesse Palmer (born 1978), Canadian football player Jesse Palmer (Australian footballer) (born 1996), Australian rules footballer Jessica Palmer (born 1953), American author Jessica Palmer (academic) (born 1980), New Zealand academic and lawyer Jim Palmer (born 1945), American baseball player Jim Palmer (basketball) (1933–2013), American basketball player Jimmy Palmer (footballer) (1877–1947), Australian rules footballer J. Lynn Palmer, American statistician Jo Palmer (born 1971), Australian politician Jock Palmer (1896–1964), Canadian soldier Joel Palmer (1810–1881), Canadian-American pioneer and politician Joey Palmer (1859–1910), Australian cricketer John Palmer (1950-2015), British Criminal Johnny Palmer (1918–2006), American golfer Johnny Ace Palmer (born 1960), American magician Jolyon Palmer (born 1991), British racing driver Jonathan Palmer (born 1956), British racing driver Jonathan Palmer (American football) (born 1983), American football player Jordan Palmer (born 1984), American football player Jordan Palmer (social activist), American politician and activist Josh Palmer (born 1999), Canadian-American football player Joshua Palmer (born 1991), Australian swimmer Judith Palmer, American composer Julia Palmer (??–1673), English poet Julie Palmer, New Zealand professor Juliet Palmer (born 1967), New Zealand composer Julins Palmer (??–1556), English martyr Julius A. Palmer Jr. (1840–1899), American historian