Pauncefith is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the
Norman Conquest of
England of 1066. The Pauncefith family lived in
Gloucestershire, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages.
Early Origins of the Pauncefith family
The surname Pauncefith was first found in
Gloucestershire where they held a
family seat as Lords of the Manor of Hasfield. At the time of the taking of the
Domesday Book in the year 1086 A.D., a survey of
England initiated by Duke William of
Normandy after his conquest of
England in 1066, the chief
tenant of Hasfield was Westminster Abbey and holding the land from the Abbey was Thurstan FitzRolf. It is from this latter Norman noble that the Paunceforts are conjecturally descended. Pancevold was a tenant-in-chief at the survey, and Pancefolt was an under-tenant. They held this manor until 1598. The name is derived from the French Pancevolt.
Early History of the Pauncefith family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pauncefith research.
Another 249 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1383 and 1437 are included under the topic Early Pauncefith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Pauncefith Spelling Variations
A multitude of
spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to
England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Pauncefoot, Pauncefort, Pauncefoote, Pauncefote and others.
Early Notables of the Pauncefith family (pre 1700)
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pauncefith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Pauncefith family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families left
England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pauncefith or a variant listed above: John Pauncefoot who landed in North America in 1750.
The Pauncefith 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: Pensez forte
Motto Translation: Think firmly.