Pottar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Pottar is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a maker of clay or metal storage vessels 1 which was in turn derived from the Latin word potus, meaning to drink. While this is the traditional understanding of the word, another reference states: "the term meant an apothecary or druggist." 2

Early Origins of the Pottar family

The surname Pottar was first found in various shires and counties throughout Britain. Search for the earliest record of the name revealed Seuard le potter who was listed in 1172 in Lincolnshire. A few years later, Geoffrey Poter was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1196 and John le Potier was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1197. Lambert le Pottur was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1214. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists Michael le Potere and John le Pottere in London, and Ranulph le Potter in Essex. 3

Secuard le Potter who appears in the Transcripts of the Charters relating to the Gilbertine Houses of Lincolnshire in 1172 and Geoffrey Poter is recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Leicestershire in 1196. John le Potier is listed in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1197 and Lambert le Pottur appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1214. Michael le Potere and John le Pottere are both recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of London in 1273. 1

The Pootter variant is fairly common in America as Robert Pootter is recorded in the Omitted Chapters of Hotten's, "Original List of Persons of Quality and Others Who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations 1600-1700" and served with Colonel Bayley's Company of Regiment of Foot in 1679-80. Later shipping records include one Stephen Pooter who emigrated from England to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania in 1859.

Early History of the Pottar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pottar research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1204, 1557, 1577, 1591, 1592, 1594, 1614, 1642, 1646, 1656, 1661, 1664, 1674, 1678, 1747 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Pottar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pottar Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Potter, Pottar, Poter and others.

Early Notables of the Pottar family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Barnaby Potter (1577-1642), English provost of Queen's College, Oxford, and bishop of Carlisle, was born at Kendal, Westmorland. He was the son of Thomas Potter, a mercer and alderman of Highgate Kendal. Christopher Potter (1591-1646), was also provost of Queen's College, Oxford, born in Westmorland. He was the nephew of Barnaby Potter.Hannibal Potter (1592-1664), was an English clergyman and college head in Oxford during the First English Civil War; Francis Potter (1594-1678), was an English clergyman, Biblical commentator, and experimentalist, an early...
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pottar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pottar family to Ireland

Some of the Pottar family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pottar family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pottar or a variant listed above: Henry Potter, who arrived in Virginia in 1619, one year before the "Mayflower"; Vincent Potter, who settled in New England in 1635; William Potter and his wife Francis, who came to Boston in 1635.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)