Pierpoant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Pierpoant reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Pierpoant family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pierpoant family lived in Norfolk, Sussex and Suffolk. Their name, however, is a reference to Pierrepont, near St. Sauveur in the Cotentin, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Pierpoant family

The surname Pierpoant was first found in Norfolk, where Reinaldus de Perapund was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 Later, Richard de Pierrpunt was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset in 1178 and Roger Perpunt was found in Nottinghamshire in 1240. 3

"Godfrey and Robert de Petroponte, [were] undertenants of William de Warenne in Suffolk and Sussex in 1086, [and] came from Pierrepont (Seine-Inférieure)." 3

The family originated in Pierrepont near St. Sauveur in the Cotentin in Normandy. Another source has a different spelling for this entry "Reginald, Geoffrey and Robert Pierpont accompanied William [the Conqueror] into England and were granted lands in Suffolk and 9,000 acres in Sussex under the Earl Warren." 4

The family it seemed had extensive property and holdings from an early date as seen by this account: "Robert de Pierrepoint was a person of such extensive property that being made a prisoner fighting on the side of King Henry III at the Battle of Lewes [1264], he was forced to give security for the payment of then great sum of seven hundred marks for his ransom." 5

In England, the mark never appeared as a coin but was a unit of account and was worth about 160 pence shortly after the Conquest. Based on a value of two-thirds of a pound, and converting to the price of silver, the ransom was about 267 dollars x 700 = Pierpoant186,900 USD in today's value.

Early History of the Pierpoant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pierpoant research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1546, 1607, 1615, 1627, 1638, 1640, 1645, 1649, 1652, 1655, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1678, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1690, 1698, 1705, 1714, 1715, 1726 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Pierpoant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pierpoant Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Pierpoant family name include Pierrponte, Pierrepont, Pierrpont, Pierrponte, Pierreponte, Pierpont, Pierponte, Pierrpoint, Pierrpointe, Pierpoint, Pierpointe, Pearpont, Pearpoint, Pearpointe, Perpoint, Perpointe and many more.

Early Notables of the Pierpoant family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Pierrepont (died 1452), MP for Nottinghamshire; Henry Pierrepont (1546-1615), English MP for Nottinghamshire; William Pierrepont, 4th Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull (c. 1662-1690), British peer and Member of Parliament; Evelyn Pierrepont, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull (c. 1655-1726), Member of Parliament for East Retford; Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester (1607-1680), English peer; William Pierrepont (c. 1607-1678), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pierpoant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pierpoant family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Pierpoant family to immigrate North America: Robert Pierpont, who came to Ipswich, MA in 1648; Henry Pierpoint, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 with his wife Elizabeth and their five children; John Pierpoint, who came to Maryland or Virginia in 1718.

The Pierpoant 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: Pie Repone Te
Motto Translation: In pious confidence.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.