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Pinkston History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Pinkston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
Ireland
Scotland

It is generally believed that the English family of this name originated in the locality 'of Punchardon' 1 while the Scottish branch originated "in the old barony of Pinkerton near Dunbar, East Lothian." 2 There is much debate about the former origin, but we include this entry for you the reader to view:

"We search in vain the Gazetteers of England and of Scotland, for any locality bearing this designation; yet the surname is local, being a corruption of the Punchardon, or Pincherdon, of the so-called Battel Abbey Roll, and the Ponte-Cardon of Domesday Book, which is derived from the place now known as Pont-Chardon, near Argentan, in Normandy. The name passed early into Scotland, and in Ragman Roll, A.D. 1296, it is written Pynkerton. It is uncommon in England, but more frequently to be met within Scotland and in the North of Ireland, to which last-named country it was introduced by Scottish colonists." 1

Another noted source disagrees: "He declares that it is a corruption of Punchardon, and asserts that Punchardon is found as Pynkerton in Ragman Roll, A.D. 1296 (Patronymica Britannica). I doubt not he is right. It is believed that Punchardon is the place now called Pont-Chardon, in the arrondissement of Argentan, Normandy. In Domesday the surname is found as Ponte-Cardon. We may take it therefore that the family came into England at the Conquest." 3

As to underscore this last entry, we draw your attention to: Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae which lists William and Robert de Ponte Cardun, Normandy 1180-95. "Pontcardon was near Neaufle, Normandy. Robert de Pontcardon 1083 held lands in Devon from Baldwin the Viscount (Exon. Domesd. 277, &c.) In 1165 William de Pontcardon held four fees in Devon, and two in Somerset, and Roger de Pontcardon held in Lincoln, and Matthew de Pontcardon in York or Northumberland (Lib. Niger). In 1216 the estates of Sir William Pontcardon at Aureville, Avesnes, and St. German, Roche, and Cetrentost, were granted to another by Philip Augustus, probably as an adherent of King John." 4

Early Origins of the Pinkston family

The surname Pinkston was first found in East Lothian where they the first entry for the family was Nicol de Pynkertone of Haddingtonshire who rendered homage in 1296 to King Edward I of England.

In England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Olyver de Punchardon, Devon and Eudo de Punchardon, Yorkshire. 3

Allan Pinkerton, (1819-1884) born in Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland emigrated to America in 1842. He would go on to found the famous Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850 in Chicago.

Early History of the Pinkston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pinkston research. Another 271 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1396, 1483, 1494, 1551, 1552, 1559, 1566, 1612, 1621, 1649, 1667, 1750, 1758, 1793, 1812, 1826, 1850, 1890 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Pinkston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pinkston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pinkerton, Pinksten, Pinksen, Pinkston, Pinkertown, Pinkertoun, Pinkertoune, Pincartoune, Pincartoun, Penkarton and many more.

Early Notables of the Pinkston family

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

Pinkston Ranking

In the United States, the name Pinkston is the 4,221^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Pinkston family to Ireland

Some of the Pinkston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pinkston migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pinkston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Pinkston, aged 45, who settled in America, in 1896
Robert Pinkston, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Pinkston Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

W. C. Pinkston, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1919
Wallace H. Pinkston, aged 27, who immigrated to America, in 1919
Wm. C. Pinkston, who landed in America, in 1920
John C. Pinkston, who landed in America, in 1921
Lillian Pinkston, aged 33, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Pinkston (post 1700) +

William Robert "Rob" Pinkston (b. 1988), American actor, known for his roles The Sasquatch Gang (2006), The Derby Stallion (2005) and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004)
Gary Pinkston, American actor, known for Die Hard (1988), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) and Edges of Darkness (2008)
Aaron Pinkston, American Daytime Emmy Award winning producer and actor, known for Repeat After Me (2015), The Kid & I (2005) and 2004 MTV Movie Awards (2004)
William Robert "Rob" Pinkston IV (b. 1988), American actor, known for his roles in The Sasquatch Gang (2006), The Derby Stallion (2005) and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004)
Todd Pinkston (b. 1977), American former NFL football wide receiver who played from 2000 to 2007
Russell Pinkston (b. 1949), American professor of composition at the University of Texas at Austin School of Music
Ryan James Pinkston (b. 1988), American Young Artist Award nominated actor, known for his roles in Bad Santa (2003), Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and Full of It (2007)
Jason R. Pinkston (b. 1987), American NFL football offensive guard for the Cleveland Browns
Clarence Pinkston (1900-1961), American gold, silver and two-time bronze medalist Olympic diver
John G. Pinkston (b. 1907), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for supervisor of Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, 1959, 1961 6
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Pinkston Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Post nubila sol
Motto Translation: After clouds sunshine.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html