Pothier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

The Pothier surname comes from the Old French word "pot", meaning a "drinking vessel"; as such, it is thought to have been an occupational name for a maker of drinking or storage vessels.

Early Origins of the Pothier family

The surname Pothier was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat at Courcy, an ancient castle and dukedom that played such an important role in the defense of northern and eastern France. The house of Potier would eventually be elevated to the Dukes of Gevres, and the Dukes of Tresmes, and Gevres, who held a family seat in Brittany.

Early History of the Pothier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pothier research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1648, 1693, 1699 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Pothier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pothier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Potier, Pottier, Potiere, Pothier, Pothiere, Poitiers, Poitier, De Potier and many more.

Early Notables of the Pothier family

More information is included under the topic Early Pothier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pothier World Ranking

In the United States, the name Pothier is the 16,774^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Pothier is ranked the 826^th most popular surname. 2 And in France, the name Pothier is the 2,532^nd popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 3

Pothier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pothier Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Jean Pothier, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Chatillon, France, in 1915
James S Pothier, aged 38, who landed in America, in 1918
Isadore Pothier, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
Simeon Pothier, aged 42, who settled in America, in 1919
Forman L. Pothier, aged 52, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pothier migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pothier Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Étienne Pothier, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Michelle De La Haye, daughter of François and Nicole, in Quebec on 9th September 1670 4
Jean-Baptiste Pothier, son of Pierre and Hélène, who married Isabelle Jossard, daughter of Gaspard and Marie, in Quebec on 5th October 1670 4
Philippe Pothier, son of Ezéchiel and Marie, who married Jeanne Vignaud, daughter of Abel and Suzanne, in Quebec on 16th August 1679 4
Jean-Baptiste Pothier, son of Jean and Marguerite, who married Marie-Étiennette Beauvais, daughter of Jacques and Jeanne, in Montreal, Quebec on 14th June 1688 4
Jean Pothier, son of Étienne and Michelle, who married Marie Macé, daughter of Martin and Jeanne, in Montreal, Quebec on 24th September 1696 4

Pothier Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Toussaint Pothier, son of Étienne and Michelle, who married Marguerite Thunay, daughter of Félix and Élisabeth, in Montreal, Quebec on 1st December 1703 4
Robert Pothier, son of Jean-Baptiste and Élisabeth, who married Marie-Charlotte Arnaud, daughter of Bertrand and Louise, in Montreal, Quebec on 16th August 1707 4
Charles Pothier, son of Claude and Louise, who married Marie-Angélique Malet, daughter of René and Marie, in Montreal, Quebec on 7th January 1716 4
Guillaume Pothier, son of Jean-Baptiste and Élisabeth, who married Jeanne-Élisabeth De Catalogne, daughter of Gédéon and Marie-Anne, in Montreal, Quebec on 26th August 1728 4
Charles Pothier, son of Claude and Louise, who married Marguerite Roy, daughter of Jean and Marie-Anne, in Montreal, Quebec on 30th July 1731 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pothier Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Paul Pothier, aged 41, who immigrated to St. Benigace, Canada, in 1919
Angus Pothier, aged 45, who immigrated to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in 1925

Contemporary Notables of the name Pothier (post 1700) +

Brian Pothier (b. 1977), American professional ice hockey player
Aram Jules Pothier (1854-1928), Canadian-born, American politician, two time Governor of Rhode Island (1909-1915) and (1925-1928)
Lucien Pothier (1883-1957), French racing cyclist who placed second in the 1903 Tour de France
Robert Joseph Pothier (1699-1772), French jurist
Dom Joseph Pothier (1835-1923), French prelate, liturgist and scholar
Eric Pothier (b. 1979), Canadian two-time Olympic luger
Hector Pothier (b. 1954), Canadian CFL football player who played from 1978 to 1989 for the Edmonton Eskimos
Hector J. Pothier (1891-1976), Canadian physician and politician in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1963 to 1967
Toussaint Pothier (1771-1845), Canadian businessman, seigneur and politician, Member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada (1824-1838)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.