I've only encountered the name Permelia one time, and that's in my genealogy. It was the name of my fourth great grandmother's younger sister, born in 1815 in Kentucky, died in 1843 in Western Missouri. She was the mother of two sons and one daughter. It's interesting one comment associated the use of the name with slavery. My Permelia's family were slave owners. Her widower and both of her sons gave their lives fighting for the South during the American Civil War.
I think proud uncle and I might be related because the Permelia in HIS genealogy has birth and death years, birth place, and death place in common with the Permelia in MY genealogy, which is the only place I've encountered the name, myself. I've been trying to find out its origins and what her REAL name might have been because it's rumored she was full blooded Native American!
My name is Permelia. A name passed on through my family. It was my great grandmothers name. I was told it was an old black Dutch/German name. I was told it was pearl and Amelia put together.
I've done a lot of genealogy and to me, it seemed to be a fairly common name in the mid to late 1800s in America. I have personally encountered the name Permelia at least 8-10 times. It's not the prettiest name but it's certainly not the worst, especially if you have an open mind about names.
I thought this name was related to Greek meli "honey" also. Pronounced "pur-MEEL-yə", "pur-MEE-lee-ə", "pur-MEL-yə" or "pur-ME-lee-ə". Nicknames, besides Meeley : ), include Perry, Perla, Perlie, Melia, Mel, Pemmy, Pem, Pia, Lia and Mia.I much prefer it to Pamela. It's more memorable and interesting. The "perm" part makes me think of permanence and eternity.
― Anonymous User 8/26/2009
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In Latin, it possibly means "by sweetness": par (by) melia (sweetness).
Not the most attractive of names, especially with the nickname my ancestress carried--Meeley (makes me think of bad bread). She was born in 1807 in Virginia, a slave, and was later freed.