Show ContentsPohl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Pohl family

The surname Pohl was first found in Silesia, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Chronicles first mention Mertin Polan of Liegnitz in 1429, and Johann am Pohle in 1546. Often the name meant "from or living near Poland," but "Am Pohle" meant living on or near swampland.

Early History of the Pohl family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pohl research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1624, 1695, 1706, 1722, 1815, 1819, 1826, 1846, 1887 and 1896 are included under the topic Early Pohl History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pohl Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pohl, Pohle, Polan, Pohlan, Pohland, Pohlmann, Poehl and many more.

Early Notables of the Pohl family

Notables of the period with the surname Pohl were

  • David Pohle (1624-1695), a German composer of the Baroque era
  • Carl Ferdinand Pohl (1819-1887), who was a prominent German musicologist and organist, and the grandson of the inventor of the glass harmonica

Pohl Ranking

In the United States, the name Pohl is the 5,806th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Pohl migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pohl Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Henry Pohl, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
Pohl Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anna Maria Pohl, who landed in America in 1839 2
  • Nikolaus Pohl, who arrived in Michigan in 1840 2
  • Johann Peter Pohl, who arrived in Michigan in 1841 2
  • Gertrude Pohl, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 2
  • Hans Henrich Pohl, who settled in Philadelphia in 1849
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pohl (post 1700) +

  • Frederic Pohl (1919-2013), American science-fiction writer, inducted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1998
  • Esther Pohl, American physician and public health pioneer
  • Frederik Pohl (b. 1919), noted American science fiction writer and editor
  • Shannon Pohl, American female badminton player
  • John Pohl (b. 1979), American NHL professional ice hockey player
  • Mrs. Rudolph Pohl, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1964 3
  • Randolph S. Pohl, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 2000 3
  • Dave Pohl, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 86th District, 2001 3
  • Camellia Pohl, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1996 3
  • Robert Wichard Pohl (1884-1976), German physicist
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Walter Pohl (1921-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4


Suggested Readings for the name Pohl +

  • Ancestral Report for George A. Pohl by George A. Pohl.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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