| ![Show Contents]() Pownal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of PownalWhat does the name Pownal mean? Pownal is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pownal family lived in Cheshire, at Pownall, from whence they derived their name. Early Origins of the Pownal familyThe surname Pownal was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Pownal familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pownal research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1520, 1560, 1571, 1722, 1731, 1757 and 1805 are included under the topic Early Pownal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pownal Spelling VariationsAnglo-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 Pownall, Pownal, Pownell, Pownel and others. Early Notables of the Pownal family- Robert Pownall (1520-1571), was an English Protestant divine, born at Barwick in Somerset. In 1520, fled from England during Queen Mary's reign. For thirty years, he wrote and did translations, return...
- Thomas Pownall (1722-1805), was a British colonial statesman and soldier, second son of William Pownall (d. 1731) and grandson of Thomas Pownall of Barnton, Cheshire. He is said to have been born at L...
Migration of the Pownal familyFor 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 Pownal or a variant listed above were: George Pownall and his wife Eleanor settled in Pennsylvania in 1682 with six children.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Pownal (post 1700) | + |
- Capel Pownal (1869-1933), British Olympic archer
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: Officium praesto
Motto Translation: I perform my duty.
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