Potes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Germany

The long and noble heritage behind the name of Potes first began in medieval France. Originally, the French people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in France is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Many people, such as the Potes family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Potes was an occupational name for a maker of clay and metal drinking and storage vessels deriving its origin from the Latin word "potus," meaning "to drink."

Early Origins of the Potes family

The surname Potes was first found in Berry, a former province until 1790 when it became a region in central France where the family has been located since early times.

The family grew and formed two branches, one of which became extinct in 1715 after the daughter of Charles, Marquis of Rhodes, and Grand Master of the ceremonies of France. The family moved to the province of Bourgogne, where Jean, the first steward of the Count of Nevers, was a prisoner at the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396.

Among the other members of this family were: Régnier, son of Jean, Lord of la Roche de Nolay, who was later made Counsellor and Chamberlain of King Philippe-le-Hardi and King Jean-sans-Peur, gruyer (administrator of Forests and Lands) of Bourgogne, Governor of Dauphiné, and Knight of the Toison-d'Or in 1430; Philippe, grandson of Régnier, who was the First Chamberlain of King Philippe the Good, and was made a Knight of the Toison-d'Or in 1461 and Saint-Michel, for whom King Louis XI created the post of Grand Seneschal of Bourgogne in 1477, and who was the most accomplished Knight of his time. Philippe was also made Governor of the County of Charollais, for King Charles VIII. Also included in this family was Guyot, Count of Saint-Pol, Governor of Touraine and Seneschal of Vermandois.

Early History of the Potes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Potes research. The year 1250 is included under the topic Early Potes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Potes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pot, Pots, Pote, Pots, Pôt, Pôts, Pôte, Pôtes, du Pot, de Pot, de la Pot, La Pot, De Paux, Paux, Paulx, Peaux, Peaulx, Peau, Paut, Pault, Peaut and many more.

Early Notables of the Potes family

Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Potes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Potes family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Johanes Pot, who settled in Philadelphia in 1754; William Pot, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1773; as well as William Pott, who settled in Barbados in 1635..

Contemporary Notables of the name Potes (post 1700) +

Alba Lucía Potes Cortés (b. 1954), Colombian composer of contemporary classical music and teacher at Mannes College The New School for Music, College Preparatory Division in New York