Show ContentsPoulton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Poulton family

The surname Poulton was first found in Cheshire where Roger, a Norman Baron, held Poulton Lancelyn as under tenant from Osbert FitzTezzo and the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. Conjecturally, the Poultons are descended from Roger de Poulton. "In Doomsday tax, the district which is now called St. Breock, [Cornwall] was rated under that of Polton or Pawton." 1

"A Cistercian abbey was founded in [Pouton in] 1153, by Robert, who was butler to Ranulph, second Earl of Chester; but the monks having suffered greatly from frequent incursions of the Welsh, removed to Dieulacres, in Staffordshire, in 1214, from which time, till the Dissolution, Poulton continued parcel of the possessions of that monastery." 2

A branch of the family was later established in Desborough, Northamptonshire. "The church is an ancient cruciform structure, with a good tower surmounted by a spire, and contains in the chancel a monument to the ancient family of Pulton, who for fourteen generations held the lordship of the place: of this family, Ferdinando Pulton, an eminent lawyer, who compiled the statutes at large from the time of Magna Charta to the sixteenth of James the First, was born here, and lies buried in the chancel." 2

The markettown and parish of Poutlon-in-the-Fylde in Lancashire was an ancient family seat. "This place, called Poltun in the Domesday Survey, appears to have belonged, about the time of that survey, to the priory of Lancaster; and in the 27th of Edward I., Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and others held Pulton in trust for the priory. In 1342, a family of the local name possessed a small quantity of land in the parish." 2

Kirby's Quest lists the following early entries for the family: Henry de Pulton, Somerset and

Walter de Pulton, Somerset. Both were listed as "1 Edward III," in other words, as "living there during the first year of the reign of King Edward III." 3

Early History of the Poulton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Poulton research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1395, 1403, 1433, 1536, 1601, 1618, 1638, 1641, 1654, 1710 and 1995 are included under the topic Early Poulton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poulton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Poulton, Poolton, Pulton, Pullton, Polton, Pouleton and many more.

Early Notables of the Poulton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Thomas Polton (died 1433), English bishop of Hereford, Chichester, and Worcester, may be the Thomas Polton who was temporarily Archdeacon of Taunton in 1395, and again about 1403; Ferninando Pulton (1...
  • Andrew Poulton or Pulton (1654-1710), was an English Jesuit, second son of Ferdinando Poulton, Esq., of Desborough, Northamptonshire. 4


United States Poulton migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Poulton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Poulton, who landed in Virginia in 1642 5
Poulton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Poulton, who landed in New York in 1835 5

Canada Poulton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Poulton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Poulton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Australia Poulton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Poulton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Poulton, English convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Edward Poulton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1849 7
  • Edward Poulton, aged 27, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 7
  • James Poulton, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Brankenmoor" 8
  • Thomas Poulton, aged 18, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Marion" 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Poulton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Poulton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Emma Poulton, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1868 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Poulton (post 1700) +

  • Bruce Poulton (1927-2015), American educator, the 10th Chancellor of North Carolina State University from 1982 to 1989
  • George Henry Poulton (1929-2010), English professional association football player
  • Diana Poulton (1903-1995), English lutenist and musicologist
  • George R. Poulton (1828-1867), English musician and composer, best known for composing the tune to "Aura Lea"
  • Richie Graham Poulton CNZM, FRSNZ (1962-2023), New Zealand psychologist and the director of the University of Otago's Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Research Unit
  • Henry Mortimer Poulton (1898-1973), British administrator in British India, Chief Commissioner of Balochistan (1946)
  • Edward L. Poulton (1865-1937), British trade unionist
  • Harry Poulton (1919-1981), Canadian sprint canoer at the 1948 Summer Olympics
  • Tom Poulton (1897-1963), British magazine and medical illustrator
  • Neil Poulton (b. 1963), Scottish product designer, based in Paris, France
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The BRANKEN MOOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849BrankenMoor.htm
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MARION 1851 - HER HISTORY. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Marion.htm
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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