Potterton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Potterton surname is thought to be a habitational name, originating in Potterton, in West Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Potterton family

The surname Potterton was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Potterton, a township in the parish of Barwick-in-Elmett. 1 The place name literally means "the Potter's Place." 2 Potterton is also a village north of Aberdeen, Scotland, in Aberdeenshire, west of Balmedie.

Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Potterton, held by Ilbert de Lacy, a Norman Baron who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. 3

Early History of the Potterton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Potterton research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1084, 1664, 1837, 1862, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Potterton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Potterton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Potterton, Poterton, Porterton, Potterten, Potersetn and many more.

Early Notables of the Potterton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Mary Jane Potterton (c. 1837-1873), English mother of Joseph Carey Merrick (1862-1890), the English man known for having severe deformities...

Potterton migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Potterton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Potterton, who settled in Philadelphia in 1872

Potterton migration to Australia +

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

Potterton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Alexander Potterton, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1838 4

Potterton 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:

Potterton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Potterton, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1873
Sarah Potterton, aged 31, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1873
Charles W. Potterton, aged 6, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1873
May E. Potterton, aged 4, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1873

Contemporary Notables of the name Potterton (post 1700) +

Arthur Potterton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1928, 1948 (alternate) 5
Gerald Potterton (1931-2022), English-born, Canadian three-time Academy Award nominated director, writer, producer and animator, best known for directing the cult classic Heavy Metal and his animation work on Yellow Submarine

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)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Canton.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html