Show ContentsPooleton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Pooleton family

The surname Pooleton was first found in Cheshire where Roger, a Norman Baron, held Poulton Lancelyn as under tenant from Osbert FitzTezzo and the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. Conjecturally, the Poultons are descended from Roger de Poulton. "In Doomsday tax, the district which is now called St. Breock, [Cornwall] was rated under that of Polton or Pawton." 1

"A Cistercian abbey was founded in [Pouton in] 1153, by Robert, who was butler to Ranulph, second Earl of Chester; but the monks having suffered greatly from frequent incursions of the Welsh, removed to Dieulacres, in Staffordshire, in 1214, from which time, till the Dissolution, Poulton continued parcel of the possessions of that monastery." 2

A branch of the family was later established in Desborough, Northamptonshire. "The church is an ancient cruciform structure, with a good tower surmounted by a spire, and contains in the chancel a monument to the ancient family of Pulton, who for fourteen generations held the lordship of the place: of this family, Ferdinando Pulton, an eminent lawyer, who compiled the statutes at large from the time of Magna Charta to the sixteenth of James the First, was born here, and lies buried in the chancel." 2

The markettown and parish of Poutlon-in-the-Fylde in Lancashire was an ancient family seat. "This place, called Poltun in the Domesday Survey, appears to have belonged, about the time of that survey, to the priory of Lancaster; and in the 27th of Edward I., Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and others held Pulton in trust for the priory. In 1342, a family of the local name possessed a small quantity of land in the parish." 2

Kirby's Quest lists the following early entries for the family: Henry de Pulton, Somerset and

Walter de Pulton, Somerset. Both were listed as "1 Edward III," in other words, as "living there during the first year of the reign of King Edward III." 3

Early History of the Pooleton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pooleton research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1395, 1403, 1433, 1536, 1601, 1618, 1638, 1641, 1654, 1710 and 1995 are included under the topic Early Pooleton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pooleton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Poulton, Poolton, Pulton, Pullton, Polton, Pouleton and many more.

Early Notables of the Pooleton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Polton (died 1433), English bishop of Hereford, Chichester, and Worcester, may be the Thomas Polton who was temporarily Archdeacon of Taunton in 1395, and again about 1403; Ferninando Pulton (1536-1618), a legal author, son of Giles Pulton of Desborough, Northamptonshire, where the family had been settled for fourteen generations; and Ferdinand Poulton, S.J...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pooleton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pooleton family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William Poulton settled in Virginia in 1642; followed by John in 1650; another John Poulton settled in Nova Scotia in 1749.



  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. 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.


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