Show ContentsPierponde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Pierponde is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pierponde 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 Pierponde family

The surname Pierponde 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 = Pierponde186,900 USD in today's value.

Early History of the Pierponde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pierponde 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 Pierponde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pierponde Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Pierrponte, Pierrepont, Pierrpont, Pierrponte, Pierreponte, Pierpont, Pierponte, Pierrpoint, Pierrpointe, Pierpoint, Pierpointe, Pearpont, Pearpoint, Pearpointe, Perpoint, Perpointe and many more.

Early Notables of the Pierponde 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 Pierponde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pierponde family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Pierponde or a variant listed above: 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 Pierponde 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.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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
  5. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.


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