Punche History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Punche family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Punche came from the Latin-Norman personal name Pontius, "hence, doubtless, as a diminutive the name Puncheon, variant of Punshon." 1

Two other sources claim the name was Norman in origin: having derived from the Old Norman French name Ponche or the Old French name Ponce; 2 and/or from the Norman name Poyntz or Ponz, a branch of the Fitz-Ponce family. 3

However, two other very reputable sources are at a loss to the name's origin. "This surname is derived from a nickname. I cannot explain this name." 4 "Its etymology has not occurred to me." 5

Early Origins of the Punche family

The surname Punche was first found in various counties throughout Britain. The first record of the family was found in the Pipe Rolls of 1181 where Godfrey, Phillip Punch(e) was listed. Seman Ponche was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Robert Punche in Oxfordshire; and Philip Punche in Suffolk. Later the Rolls of Parliament listed John Punche, yeoman of the crown (no date given.) 4

"The manor [of Linch in Sussex] is described in the Domesday Survey under the name of Lince, and at the time when that record was compiled, there were two ministers here, with a church. In the 16th century, the place was parcel of the estates of the dukes of Norfolk; it afterwards became the property of Viscount Montague, and eventually of the family of Poyntz." 6

In Somerset, "Leighland, in the parish of Old Cleeve, was the property of the Poyntz family. From them it descended to the Rowes, in the reign of William III." 7

Early History of the Punche family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Punche research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1507, 1510, 1521, 1522, 1527, 1528, 1533, 1556, 1559, 1569, 1570, 1571, 1585, 1603, 1607 and 1661 are included under the topic Early Punche History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Punche Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Punch, Poyntz, Pons and others.

Early Notables of the Punche family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Francis Poyntz (died 1528), English diplomatist, third son of Sir Robert Poyntz (d. 1521) of Iron Acton, Gloucestershire; and his son, Sir Anthony Poyntz (c.1480-1533), an English diplomat and naval commander, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1507, 1522 and 1527; and his son, Sir Nicholas Poyntz (1510-c.1556), a prominent English courtier during the latter part of Henry VIII's reign; and...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Punche Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Punche family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Punche or a variant listed above: James Punch, who settled in Barbados in 1679; Mary Punch, who came to Virginia in 1702; Hans Michael Punch, who came to Pennsylvania in 1737; John Poyntz, who came to Boston in 1737.

Citations +

Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. Print