Pierrepont History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Pierrepont family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Norfolk, Sussex and Suffolk. Their name, however, is a reference to Pierrepont, near St. Sauveur in the Cotentin, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Pierrepont family

The surname Pierrepont was first found in Norfolk, where Reinaldus de Perapund was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 Later, Richard de Pierrpunt was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset in 1178 and Roger Perpunt was found in Nottinghamshire in 1240. 3

"Godfrey and Robert de Petroponte, [were] undertenants of William de Warenne in Suffolk and Sussex in 1086, [and] came from Pierrepont (Seine-Inférieure)." 3

The family originated in Pierrepont near St. Sauveur in the Cotentin in Normandy. Another source has a different spelling for this entry "Reginald, Geoffrey and Robert Pierpont accompanied William [the Conqueror] into England and were granted lands in Suffolk and 9,000 acres in Sussex under the Earl Warren." 4

The family it seemed had extensive property and holdings from an early date as seen by this account: "Robert de Pierrepoint was a person of such extensive property that being made a prisoner fighting on the side of King Henry III at the Battle of Lewes [1264], he was forced to give security for the payment of then great sum of seven hundred marks for his ransom." 5

In England, the mark never appeared as a coin but was a unit of account and was worth about 160 pence shortly after the Conquest. Based on a value of two-thirds of a pound, and converting to the price of silver, the ransom was about 267 dollars x 700 = Pierrepont186,900 USD in today's value.

Early History of the Pierrepont family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pierrepont research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1546, 1607, 1615, 1627, 1638, 1640, 1645, 1649, 1652, 1655, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1678, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1690, 1698, 1705, 1714, 1715, 1726 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Pierrepont History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pierrepont 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 Pierrponte, Pierrepont, Pierrpont, Pierrponte, Pierreponte, Pierpont, Pierponte, Pierrpoint, Pierrpointe, Pierpoint, Pierpointe, Pearpont, Pearpoint, Pearpointe, Perpoint, Perpointe and many more.

Early Notables of the Pierrepont family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Henry Pierrepont (died 1452), MP for Nottinghamshire
Henry Pierrepont (1546-1615), English MP for Nottinghamshire
William Pierrepont, 4th Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull (c. 1662-1690), British peer and Member of Parliament
Evelyn Pierrepont, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull (c. 1655-1726), Member of Parliament for East Retford
Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester (1607-1680), English peer
William Pierrepont (c. 1607-1678), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1660
Francis Pierrepont (died 1659), an English politician, Member of Parliament for East Retford in 1640, Member of Parliament for Nottingham (1645-1652), fought in the Parliamentary army in the English C...
Robert Pierrepont (ca.1638-1681), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Nottingham (1660-1685)

Pierrepont migration to the United States +

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 Pierrepont or a variant listed above:

Pierrepont Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward D. Pierrepont, aged 32, who settled in America from London, in 1899

Pierrepont Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Julia J. Pierrepont, aged 49, who immigrated to America, in 1907
Katheryne Pierrepont, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1908
Henry E. Pierrepont, aged 62, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
Robert L. Pierrepont, aged 31, who landed in America, in 1908
Mrs. Seth. Low. Pierrepont, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pierrepont (post 1700) +

William Constable Pierrepont (1803-1885), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Jefferson County, 1841 6
Seth Low Pierrepont (1884-1956), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ridgefield, 1921-27; Delegate to Connecticut convention to ratify 21st amendment 24th District, 1933 6
Edwards Pierrepont (1817-1892), American politician, U.S. Minister to Great Britain, 1876-77 6
Evelyn Pierrepont (1711-1773), 2nd Duke of Kingston, English peer
Charles Pierrepont (1737-1816), 1st Earl Manvers, an English nobleman and naval officer
The Honourable Henry Manvers Pierrepont (1780-1851), English diplomat, Envoy to the Court of Sweden from 1804 to 1807
Charles Herbert Pierrepont (1778-1860), 2nd Earl Manvers
Jay Pierrepont Moffat (1896-1943), American diplomat
Jay Pierrepont Moffat (b. 1932), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Chad, 1983-85 7
Jay Pierrepont Moffat (1896-1943), American politician, U.S. Minister to Canada, 1940-43, died in office 1943; Luxembourg, 1941-43 7

The Pierrepont 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: Pie Repone Te
Motto Translation: In pious confidence.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html