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Paynter History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Paynter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The birthplace of the surname Paynter is Cornwall, a rugged peninsula in southwestern England that is noted for its strong Gaelic traditions. Though surnames became common during medieval times, English people were formerly known only by a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames were adopted in medieval England is fascinating. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Despite the fact that occupational surnames are rare among the Cornish People, they nevertheless sometimes adopted surnames derived from the type of work they did. The surname Paynter was an occupational name for a painter. Paynter is an occupational surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Occupational surnames were derived from the primary activity of the bearer. In the Middle Ages, people did not generally live off of the fruits of their labor in a particular job. Rather, they performed a specialized task, as well as farming, for subsistence. Other occupational names were derived from an object associated with a particular activity. This type of surname is called a metonymic surname. The surname Paynter comes from the Old English word peintour, which means painter.

Early Origins of the Paynter family

The surname Paynter was first found in Cornwall where "Boskennal and Boskenna both belong to John Paynter, Esq.; but the latter, which formerly belonged to the Carthews, is his place of residence. This family of Paynter, which was originally of Deverel in Gwinear, and afterwards of Trelisick in St. Erth, has been settled here ever since the reign of Charles II." 1

Early History of the Paynter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Paynter research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1540, 1594, 1637 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Paynter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paynter Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Paynter, Painter and others.

Early Notables of the Paynter family

More information is included under the topic Early Paynter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Paynter Ranking

In the United States, the name Paynter is the 7,878^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Paynter migration to the United States +

Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Paynter family to immigrate North America:

Paynter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Rowland Paynter, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Margaret of Bristol"
Edward Paynter, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Margaret of Bristol"
Thomas, Robert and William Paynter all, who settled in Virginia in 1643
Roger Paynter, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 3
Martha Paynter, who arrived in Maryland in 1658
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Paynter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Regina Paynter who arrived in Philadelphia in 1734
Jurig Michael Paynter, aged 55, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 3
Lovell Paynter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1741

Paynter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard G Paynter, aged 28, who landed in Missouri in 1846 3

Paynter migration to Australia +

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

Paynter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Paynter, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 4
George Paynter, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 4
Henry Paynter, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 4
John Paynter, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 4
Mary Paynter, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Paynter 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:

Paynter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George H. Paynter, aged 38, a shoemaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 5
Ellen Paynter, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 5
Thomas Paynter, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 5
Lucy Paynter, aged 13, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Paynter (post 1700) +

Thomas Hanson Paynter (1851-1921), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Kentucky 9th District, 1889-95; Judge, Kentucky Court of Appeals, 1895-1906; U.S. Senator from Kentucky, 1907-13 6
Lemuel Paynter (1788-1863), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 1st District, 1837-41 6
Thomas Hanson Paynter (1851-1921), American Congressman and Senator (1907-1913) from Kentucky
Samuel Paynter (1768-1845), American merchant and politician
Edward Paynter (1901-1979), English one of England's greatest cricket players
Noel Paynter (b. 1898), English RAF Air Commodore
Billy Paynter (b. 1984), English professional footballer, playing for Southend United

Historic Events for the Paynter family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Charles Edwin Paynter, English 1st Class Passenger from Liverpool, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 7
Miss Irene Emily Paynter, English 1st Class Passenger from Liverpool, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 7

Citations +

Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABBERTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Abberton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/