Pouncy History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsPouncy is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Pouncy is a name that comes from the Latin-Norman personal name Pontius, "hence, doubtless, as a diminutive the name Puncheon, variant of Punshon." 1 Two other sources claim the name was Norman in origin: having derived from the Old Norman French name Ponche or the Old French name Ponce; 2 and/or from the Norman name Poyntz or Ponz, a branch of the Fitz-Ponce family. 3 However, two other very reputable sources are at a loss to the name's origin. "This surname is derived from a nickname. I cannot explain this name." 4 "Its etymology has not occurred to me." 5 Early Origins of the Pouncy familyThe surname Pouncy was first found in various counties throughout Britain. The first record of the family was found in the Pipe Rolls of 1181 where Godfrey, Phillip Punch(e) was listed. Seman Ponche was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Robert Punche in Oxfordshire; and Philip Punche in Suffolk. Later the Rolls of Parliament listed John Punche, yeoman of the crown (no date given.) 4 "The manor [of Linch in Sussex] is described in the Domesday Survey under the name of Lince, and at the time when that record was compiled, there were two ministers here, with a church. In the 16th century, the place was parcel of the estates of the dukes of Norfolk; it afterwards became the property of Viscount Montague, and eventually of the family of Poyntz." 6 In Somerset, "Leighland, in the parish of Old Cleeve, was the property of the Poyntz family. From them it descended to the Rowes, in the reign of William III." 7 Early History of the Pouncy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pouncy research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1507, 1510, 1521, 1522, 1527, 1528, 1533, 1556, 1559, 1569, 1570, 1571, 1585, 1603, 1607 and 1661 are included under the topic Early Pouncy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pouncy Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Punch, Poyntz, Pons and others. Early Notables of the Pouncy familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Francis Poyntz (died 1528), English diplomatist, third son of Sir Robert Poyntz (d. 1521) of Iron Acton, Gloucestershire; and his son, Sir Anthony Poyntz (c.1480-1533), an English diplomat and naval commander, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1507, 1522 and 1527; and his son, Sir Nicholas Poyntz (1510-c.1556), a prominent English courtier during the latter part of Henry VIII's reign; and... Pouncy RankingIn the United States, the name Pouncy is the 18,502nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Pouncy or a variant listed above were: Pouncy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Pouncy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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