Show ContentsPoland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Poland is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Poland comes from the Norman-Christian given name Paulinus, which belonged to an early settler Anglo-Norman settler.

Early Origins of the Poland family

The surname Poland was first found in Staffordshire from very ancient times, and Lincolnshire where they were Lords of the Manor of Odcombe. The origin of the name has long since faded into the mists of time but most scholars give the name as a Norman Christian name belonging to a settler, Paulinus, who landed in England soon after the Norman Conquest.

Early History of the Poland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Poland research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1636 is included under the topic Early Poland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Poland Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Paulin, Paulyn, Pollen, Pollyn, Pollin, Polyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Poland family

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

Poland Ranking

In the United States, the name Poland is the 4,507th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Poland family to Ireland

Some of the Poland family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Poland migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Poland or a variant listed above were:

Poland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Lafs.land Poland, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 2
Poland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Poland, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Stephen Poland, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
Poland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Poland, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1832 2
  • Nahan Poland, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
  • Osbom Poland, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
  • Agnes Poland, who landed in New York in 1850 2
  • Henry Poland, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1850 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Poland Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Joseph Poland, aged 27, originally from Tullamore, arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Oceanic" from Queenstown, Ireland 3
  • Bridget Poland, aged 22, who landed in America from Louth, Ireland, in 1907
  • Annie Poland, aged 20, who immigrated to America from Manchline, Scotland, in 1908
  • Hannah Poland, aged 28, originally from Tullamore, Ireland, arrived in New York in 1908 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Queenstown, Ireland 3
  • Edward Poland, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Tullimore, Ireland, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Poland 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:

Poland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Matthew Poland, aged 16, a plasterer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Poland (post 1700) +

  • Chris Poland (b. 1957), American guitarist and vocalist in the band Megadeth
  • Pat Poland, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2000; Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 16th District, 2006 4
  • Luke Potter Poland (1815-1887), American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from Vermont, 1870-72 4
  • George M. Poland, American Republican politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives Twenty-Ninth Middlesex District, 1905 4
  • Edward J. Poland, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Rensselaer County 1st District, 1932 4
  • Fred Poland, English professional association footballer
  • Alfred Poland (1822-1872), British surgeon, best known for identifying Poland syndrome


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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