Pauncefort History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Pauncefort family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Gloucestershire, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Pauncefort family

The surname Pauncefort 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. 1

"The first of the name on record is Bernard Pancevolt, a Domesday tenant-in-chief in Hampshire. Geoffrey de Pauncevote was steward to the household of King John." 2Samual Pancevot was listed in Hampshire, Henry, Edward I. 3

In 1165 Humphrey Paunevolt held fiefs in Gloucester from Newmarch 4. Humphrey Pancevolt witnessed the foundation of Shireburn Abbey, Hants. The name long continued in Gloucester and elsewhere. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Grimbald Pancefot, Hertfordshire; and Walter Pancevot, Somerset. 5 In Somerset, John Paucefot was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6

Early History of the Pauncefort family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pauncefort research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1383 and 1437 are included under the topic Early Pauncefort History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pauncefort 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 Pauncefort family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pauncefort Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pauncefort family

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 Pauncefort or a variant listed above: John Pauncefoot who landed in North America in 1750.

Contemporary Notables of the name Pauncefort (post 1700) +

George Pauncefort (1869-1942), American actor, known for The Key to Power (1920), The Running Fight (1915) and The Precious Parcel (1916)
Claire Pauncefort (1851-1924), English actress from Birmingham, known for The Gay Lord Quex (1917), The House of Temperley (1913) and Adam Bede (1918)
Thomas Pauncefort (1884-1963), Scottish-born, Australian actor, known for Fallen Leaves (1919); he was married to Rita Pauncefort
Miss Rita Pauncefort (1890-1970), née Sauer, Australian comedienne who with her partner, Miss Dorothy "Dilly" Foster were known as "Ada and Elsie"; they were featured on "Calling the Stars" with ABC and in July 1945 were banned like other well-known comedians at that time

The Pauncefort 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.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.