Powers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The surname Powers came from a nickname for a poor man or a pauper. This name implies a voluntary vow of poverty rather than involuntary destitution. The surname Powers is derived from the Old French word "povre," which comes from the Latin word "pauper," which means "poor." The Gaelic form of the surname is "de Paor," although the proper prefix would be "le."

Early Origins of the Powers family

The surname Powers was first found in Devon, where they were descended from Rivalon, Lord of Poncar, in Brittany. Bartholomew Poher was granted lands in Devon and was Lord of Blackborough and was father of Robert Poher (sometimes called Sir Roger or Robert le Poer) who accompanied Strongbow in the Irish invasion in 1172. They were granted the county of Waterford by Strongbow and became active in the Government of Waterford and the whole of Ireland. 1

The original settler Robert was killed in 1188 but his many sons and grandchildren established a name which would eventually become as Irish as the native Irish. Another source provides more details: "The immediate descendant of Norman Le Poer, or Power, was Sir Roger Le Poer, Knt., who accompanied Strongbow to Ireland, and obtained for his services three considerable territorial grants. He was ancestor of the Lords de la Poer, now represented by the Marquess of Waterford, and the many eminent families of Power in the South of Ireland, the Powers of Clashmore, Faithlegg, Kilfane, Belleville, etc." 2

"The name of Poer or Power is widely spread in Ireland. The Poers of Belleville Park, near Cappoquin ; the Powers of Affane and Mount Rivers, in the same vicinity ; the Powers of Gurteen, midway between Clonmel and Carrick, are the chief representatives of this honourable name in the county of Water­ford. Several branches remained seated in England. " 3

Early History of the Powers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Powers research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1630, 1649, 1654, 1660, 1666, 1673, 1690, 1693, 1701, 1704, 1713, 1746 and 1880 are included under the topic Early Powers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Powers Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes spelled names as they sounded; therefore, single person, could have his name spelt many different ways during their lifetime. While investigating the origins of the name Powers, many spelling variations were encountered, including: Power, Powers, le Poer and others.

Early Notables of the Powers family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Powers Ranking

In the United States, the name Powers is the 314th most popular surname with an estimated 87,045 people with that name. 4


Powers migration to the United States +

A great number of Irish families left their homeland in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century, migrating to such far away lands as Australia and North America. The early settlers left after much planning and deliberation. They were generally well off but they desired a tract of land that they could farm solely for themselves. The great mass of immigrants to arrive on North American shores in the 1840s differed greatly from their predecessors because many of them were utterly destitute, selling all they had to gain a passage on a ship or having their way paid by a philanthropic society. These Irish people were trying to escape the aftermath of the Great Potato Famine: poverty, starvation, disease, and, for many, ultimately death. Those that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Irish settlers bearing the name Powers:

Powers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Powers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Powers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Powers migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Powers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Powers migration to Australia +

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

Powers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Powers 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:

Powers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Powers (post 1700) +
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