Powiss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The forbears of the name Powiss once lived in Powys, an ancient district in North Wales. It was divided into the counties of Brecknock, Radnor, and Montgomery by the English in the late 13th century according to the terms of the Statute of Rhuddan.

Early Origins of the Powiss family

The surname Powiss was first found in Shropshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Powiss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Powiss research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1648, 1649, 1688, 1713, 1714, 1719 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Powiss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Powiss Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Powiss has occasionally been spelled Powys, Powis and others.

Early Notables of the Powiss family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir Thomas Powys (1649-1719), from Henley Hall, Shropshire, Attorney General to King James II. He was chief prosecutor at the trial of the Seven Bishops in June 1688, and was a Justice of...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Powiss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Powiss family

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Powiss: Robert Powis settled in Virginia in 1649; Sarah Powys, who settled in South Carolina sometime between 1670 and 1686; John Powys, who came to South Carolina in 1683.

The Powiss 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: Parta tueri
Motto Translation: Defend your acquisitions.