Show ContentsPoyntz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Poyntz surname "is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Poynz.'". [1] It may also be derived from the Latin "pontes," meaning "bridges."

The name could have originated at Ponts, Normandy. "There is a Ponts in the Manche Dept., and another in the Seine-Inférieure Dept." [2]

Another source claims the name was "Old French Ponz, Latin Pontius, 'man from Pontus in Asia Minor', the name of a saint (Pontius) of Asia Minor whose cult was widely spread in the Middle Ages, surviving also in French Pons, Ponce and the Burgundian Point. The surname is also a nickname for a fop, the man with the points." [3]

Early Origins of the Poyntz family

The surname Poyntz was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where "Walter filius Ponz, [was] a tenant-in-chief at the time of the Norman survey, and Drogo, his brother who held many manors in the counties of Wilts., Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford, were sons of Walter Ponz, a noble Norman. From Drogo filius Ponz descended the family of Clifford." [4]

Ricardus filius Puinz was listed as famous Knights Templar in Somerset in 1185 and the Pipe Rolls of 1196 list Puntis, Pontius Arnaldi in Devon. In Surrey, we found Reginald Puinz, Poinz in the Pipe Rolls of 1176-1177. Randulf Poinces was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Surrey in 1207. Hugh de Poinz was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Somerset in 1221. [3]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for Hugo Poynz, Kent; Nicholas Poynz, Kent; and William Poynz, Devon. [1]

The name is "amongst the old and distinguished knightly families of Essex now rarely represented in the county is that of Poyntz, of North Ockendon, in the 16th and 17th centuries." [5]

Poyntz Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval 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. The name has been spelled Pounse, Pouncy, Pouncey, Poyntz and others.


United States Poyntz migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Poyntz or a variant listed above:

Poyntz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Poyntz, who settled in Boston in 1737
Poyntz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Nath C. S. Poyntz, aged 36, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Baltic" in 1882 [6]
  • Mrs. A. Poyntz, aged 28, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Teutonic" in 1895 [6]
  • Ada Poyntz, aged 1 month, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Teutonic" in 1895 [6]
  • Mary Jane Poyntz, aged 7, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Teutonic" in 1895 [6]
  • R. J. Poyntz, aged 34, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Teutonic" in 1895 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Poyntz Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William G. Poyntz, aged 21, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lucania" in 1901 [6]
  • Patrick S. Poyntz, aged 29, who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Oceanic" in 1904 [6]
  • Patrick S. Poyntz, aged 26, who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Oceanic" in 1904 [6]
  • Richard St. P. Poyntz, aged 23, who arrived in New York aboard the ship "New York" in 1907 [6]
  • Franis Poyntz, aged 34, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Adriatic" in 1913 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Poyntz migration to Australia +

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

Poyntz Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Poyntz, aged 25, who arrived in Melbourne, Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Eagle" [7]
  • Miss Eleanor Poyntz, who arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1886 aboard the ship "Arabic" [7]
  • Luke Poyntz, who arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1886 aboard the ship "Arabic" [7]
Poyntz Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Miss R. A. Poyntz, aged 29, who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Balranald" in 1922 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Poyntz (post 1700) +

  • Juliet Stuart Poyntz (1866-1937), American member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a founding member of the Communist Party of the United States, Workers Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 20th District, 1924; Workers Candidate for New York State Attorney General, 1928
  • C. P. Poyntz, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1888 [8]
  • William Poyntz, English politician, High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1786
  • William Stephen Poyntz (1770-1840), English Whig and Liberal politician
  • Edward Stephen Massey Poyntz (1883-1934), English first-class cricketer for Somerset (1905-1919)
  • Hugh Stainton Poyntz DSO OBE (1877-1955), English soldier and first-class cricket for Somerset between 1904 and 1921
  • Sarah Poyntz (b. 1926), Irish journalist and author
  • John Poyntz Spencer KG, PC (1835-1910), 5th Earl Spencer, British Liberal Party politician, two-time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
  • Stephen Poyntz Denning (1795-1864), English portraitist, artist and curator


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  7. Public Record Office Victoria retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://prov.vic.gov.au
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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