Contents [hide]

Pooley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Pooley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The ancient roots of the Pooley family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Pooley comes from when the family lived near a pool of water. 1 The surname Pooley belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Early Origins of the Pooley family

The surname Pooley was first found in Dorset at Poole, now a large coastal town and seaport. While today Poole is a large tourist resort, looking back to as early as the Iron Age, this costal town was a major fishing port. The Romans landed at Poole during their conquest of Britain in the 1st century.

Years later, the Vikings in 876 landed; Guthrum sailed his fleet through the harbour to attack Wareham, and in later 1015, Canute began his conquest of England here using it as a base to raid and pillage Wessex. Centuries later in the 16th century, Poole would become a major commercial center for the North American colonies, including the vast fisheries of Newfoundland. Accordingly, many Newfoundlanders trace their lineage through Poole or nearby communities. Another branch was found at Ewelme in Oxfordshire at ancient times.

Another source notes: "the oldest family of this name, Poole of Poole, co. Chester, were lords of that estate from an early period. The name was variously written, in the XIV. century, Pull, Poole, and De la Poole." 2

"William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, who obtained the manor by marriage with Alice, daughter and heiress of Thomas Chaucer, son of Geoffrey Chaucer, the poet, in whose family it had been for many years, erected the present church and a noble mansion, of which latter only some of the outoffices now remain. There are some handsome monuments, one of which, to the memory of the Duchess of Suffolk, who died in 1475, is elaborately embellished; the Chaucer monument, an altar-tomb, is ornamented with numerous shields of armorial bearings, and inlaid with brasses on which are the effigies of a knight and his lady, in the costume of the fifteenth century." 3

"William de la Pole, Earl and Duke of Suffolk, the redoubted warrior of the martial times of Henry V. and Henry VI., was derived from the Norman De la Pole. From the same origin also sprang the De la Poles of Staffordshire, the parent stock of the Poles of Radborne, co. Derby, and the Poles, Barons Montagu, illustrious for having given birth to Cardinal Pole, Archbishop of Canterbury, the most eminent prelate of his age, one of the three presidents of the Council of Trent." 4

Again in Radbourn (Radborne) in Derbyshire: "On the death of Sir John Chandos, the celebrated warrior, in 1370, the estate passed to his representatives in the female line, and eventually to Sir Peter de la Pole, from whom the manor has descended to its present owner, Edward Sacheverel Chandos Pole, Esq. Radbourn Hall, a large brick mansion of modern date, the seat of the Pole family, stands on an eminence in a well-wooded park, commanding extensive views in all directions." 3

Somerset was an early point of importance to the family for it is there that we find: Boniface atte Poule; Stephen atte Poule; and Philip atte Poule all recorded 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one early entry, that of Walter de la Pulle, Oxfordshire and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 similarly had only one: Johanna de Pulle. 6

In Scotland, the name is "perhaps local, from residence by a pool. William del Pol of Donde granted a charter, 1321. William, Adam, and Mathew Pule appear in 1624, and John Puill was merchant burgess of Dumfries, 1638." 7

Early History of the Pooley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pooley research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1361, 1366, 1389, 1415, 1448, 1462, 1473, 1500, 1505, 1541, 1558, 1564, 1566, 1597, 1601, 1603, 1612, 1614, 1617, 1621, 1624, 1626, 1629, 1632, 1640, 1648, 1661, 1673 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Pooley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pooley Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Pooley has appeared include Pool, Pooley, Poole, Pole, Pull and others.

Early Notables of the Pooley family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Neville Poole (died 1661), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1614 and 1648; Sir Edward Poole (1617-1673), was an English politician who sat in the House o...

Pooley Ranking

In the United States, the name Pooley is the 14,792^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Pooley family to Ireland

Some of the Pooley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pooley migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Pooley arrived in North America very early:

Pooley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Grivell Pooley, who landed in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "James" 9
John Pooley, who arrived in Maryland in 1672 9

Pooley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nicholas Pooley, who landed in Virginia in 1714 9
Rebecca Pooley, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 9

Pooley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Pooley, who arrived in New York in 1832 9
Mr. Richard Pooley, (b. 1821), aged 28, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 23rd August 1849 10
Mr. Samson Pooley, (b. 1830), aged 19, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 23rd August 1849 10
Mr. Robert Pooley, (b. 1832), aged 17, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 23rd August 1849 10
Miss Elizabeth Pooley, (b. 1826), aged 23, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 23rd August 1849 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pooley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mrs. Mary Annie Pooley, (b. 1855), aged 49, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, USA on 12th December 1904 en route to Missouri, USA 11

Pooley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pooley Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Samuel Pooley, English convict who was convicted in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12

Pooley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry Pooley, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Thomas Pooley, English convict who was convicted in Colchester, Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Ann Pooley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 15
Elizabeth Pooley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 15
Emmeline Pooley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pooley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Pooley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph W. Pooley, aged 20, a painter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Conflict" in 1874
James Pooley, aged 31, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877
Mr. James Pooley, (b. 1846), aged 31, Cornish farm labourer departing on 7th July 1877 aboard the ship "Wairoa" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 19th October 1877 16
Miss Caroline E. Pooley, (b. 1864), aged 19, Cornish general Servant departing on 28th November 1883 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd January 1884 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Pooley (post 1700) +

Sheldon George "Don" Pooley Jr., (b. 1951), American PGA golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour
Ginger Pooley (b. 1977), née Reyes, an American rock musician, best known as a bassist and backing vocalist for the rock band The Smashing Pumpkins
Kristopher Pooley (b. 1976), American rock musician
David Pooley, American college football coach
Van Rensselaer Pooley, American politician, First Selectman of Darien, Connecticut, 1907-08, 1910 18
Robie Pooley, American Republican politician, Candidate for Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, 1989 18
Robert P. Pooley, American politician, U.S. Consul in Sierra Leone, 1897; SAINT Helena, 1898-1905 18
Ida I. Pooley, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut Republican State Central Committee, 1940 18
Charles A. Pooley (b. 1854), American Republican politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 8th District, 1911-22 18
Kirstie Pooley, English actress, best known for her roles as Eva Braun in War and Remembrance (1988-1989)
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Pooley 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: Pollet virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue excels.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Wellington 1872-1880 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nz_wellington.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html