Surname Poindexter - Meaning and Origin

iGENEA DNA Test: A Journey into the Rich Ancestral Tapestry of Surname Poindexter

My iGENEA DNA test was a journey into the past, unearthing details about my ancestry that had previously remained vague and abstract. The results significantly influenced my view of my surname, Poindexter, paving the way for a deeper understanding and appreciation of my lineage. The test served as a key, revealing the diverse ethnic origins of the Poindexter line—Celtic, Germanic, and Iberian—and unearthing connections with distant relatives.

C. Poindexter

Poindexter: What does the surname Poindexter mean?

The surname Poindexter is of French origin, derived from the old French "Poingdestre" which means "right-handed" or metaphorically "skillful" or "dexterous". It is a descriptive surname likely initially given to someone who was particularly adept or skillful, especially in combat. The name is composed of two parts: "Poing" comes from "Poinct", meaning "fist" or "hand," and "Destre", meaning "right" or "dexterous". It could also potentially refer to someone who was right-handed in a time or place where left-handedness was more common. The surname was brought to Britain following the Norman conquest in 1066, and subsequently made its way to the American colonies in the 17th century, where it remains relatively common today. As with all surnames, individuals with the last name Poindexter may not necessarily have any connection to the original meaning.

Poindexter: Where does the name Poindexter come from?

The last name Poindexter is most commonly found in the United States. In 2020, Poindexter was the 16,923rd most common surname in America, representing approximately 0.0058 percent of the population.

The highest concentrations of Poindexters can be found in the southern states of North Carolina, Texas, and Georgia. According to the 2010 census data from ancestry.com, North Carolina had the most Poindexters with nearly 1,500 individuals recorded.

Although the exact origin of the name is unknown, Poindexter historians believe it was likely derived from the Norman French personal name, "Pont indexter," which means "bridge builder."

Given that Poindexters originated in the south, it's not surprising that there are also Poindexters in other southern states like Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Outside of the United States, Poindexters can also be found in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Records from the 1881 UK Census for England and Wales show that there were nearly 400 Poindexters in the area.

Overall, the last name Poindexter is most common in the United States, particularly in the south. However, given its French-Norman origin, the surname is found all around the world in places like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Poindexter

The surname Poindexter is a derivation of the French name Poingdestre, which itself derived from the medieval French phrase Point d'Estre, meaning "point of the east". This has evolved over time to become the English surnames Poynter, Pointdexter, Pointstexter, Poyndexter, Pondoxter, Pondaxter, Poyndeser, Poynster, Pondexter, and Poindexter. The various spellings of Poindexter have come to be extended over time as individual branches of the family have spread out across the world.

Variants and spellings of the Poindexter surname in different cultures are believed to include Pointdextre, Pointtexter, Pondaxter, Poynster, Poyndexter, Pondextre, Pondexte, Poyndeser, and Paynxtre in French, Poindextrem and Poyngdestrem in Anglo-Norman, Poingdestre and Point des Estres in Middle English, Pondixter in Early Modern English, Pointz in Dutch, and Pointzdexter and Pointsdextre in German.

In Scotland, variants of the surname can appear with the spelling Pointsdexter, Pozinski, Poinsetter, and Pointzdexter.

In the United States, other variants include Pointexter, Poingdestro, Poindexter, Pointstexter, Pointdextre, Pontixter, Poinski, Poinsett, Playnexter, and Poynsett.

The Poindexter surname also appears to have numerous inter-related family lines, including the Welsh families of Poyntz, Pontis, and Ponton; the English families of Points, Poinsett, Poyntz, and Ponton; the Irish families of Poynsett and Ponton; the Scottish families of Ponton and Poyntz; and the French families of Poindextrem, Poindextre, Pointdextre, and Poyngdestrem.

Famous people with the name Poindexter

• Lawrence "Larry" Poindexter: American actor.
• Dax Poindexter: American rower and coach.
• Silverino Poindexter: Former German footballer and manager.
• Martin Poindexter Henni: American politician.
• Mikal Poindexter: American football player.
• Clayton Poindexter: American gospel singer.
• Billy Poindexter: American jazz saxophonist and composer.
• Elwood Poindexter: American soccer player.
• Brian Poindexter: American former-baseball player.
• Henry Poindexter: American politician.
• Don Poindexter: American former-baseball player.
• Nicholas Poindexter: American football coach and scout.
• P. Allen Poindexter: United States Navy admiral.
• Terry Poindexter: American former-baseball player.
• Chris Poindexter: American comedian.
• Jimmy Poindexter: Australian former rugby player.
• Freddie Poindexter: American professional wrestler.
• Ronald Poindexter: American former-baseball player.
• Jeff Poindexter: American children's author and illustrator.
• Desmond Poindexter: American former-basketball player.

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