Surname Polglaze - Meaning and Origin

Polglaze: What does the surname Polglaze mean?

Polglaze is a surname of Cornish origin. The name is topographic, denoting someone who lived by a pool or pit. It's derived from the Cornish words 'poll', meaning pool, and 'glas' or 'glaze', meaning green or blue. Thus, it may also refer to a green or blue pool or pit. The surname reflects the Celtic heritage of Cornwall, a county in South West England known for its stunning coastlines and rugged countryside. As a result, the surname Polglaze is predominantly found in areas with a historical Cornish population. Like many other surnames, it allows us to understand more about the geographical and cultural background of those who bear it.

Polglaze: Where does the name Polglaze come from?

Polglaze is a surname which is most commonly found in areas of the United Kingdom, particularly in the West Country of England and the Southern regions of Wales. In England, the surname appears to be most regularly found in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset, as well as in the Severn Vale area of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

In Wales, the Polglaze name can be found especially in Powys and Monmouthshire, in addition to the most populous areas such as Cardiff and Swansea. Most immigrants to North America and other countries from the United Kingdom will have taken the Polglaze surname with them, but it may be much less common in these areas compared to its presence in the British Isles.

The surname does appear in records dating back to Norman times, with its first mentions in the region of Herefordshire. It is thought to have derived from the words ‘Pol’ and ‘Glaise’, which are of Norman origin and relate to near water. It is also possible that the term ‘Polglaze’ could be a corruption of ‘Palgrave’, another Norman surname which means ‘principal man of the court’.

Variations of the surname Polglaze

Polglaze is an English surname with a Cornwall origin. Its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Polglase, Pollglaze, Pollglass, Pollglas, Pallglas, Pollaws, Palgez, Palgezze, Palsgrease, Palsgrese, Pallsgrease, and Polschultz.

Polglaze is an occupational surname derived from the Cornish word ‘polglez’ meaning ‘dumpy worker’ or ‘miner’ and was likely first used as a surname for a person who worked with the ore being mined in Cornwall. It is also an anglicised form of the Polish surname, Pólgląś, found in the Polish areas of Silesia and Prussia, and is derived from the Germanic name ‘Pallgles’, which was derived from the Latin word ‘palladium’, meaning ‘guardian’ or ‘protector’.

The spelling Polglase may be associated with the spelling, Pollglas, and may have been used by descendants of those who emigrated from Cornwall to the United States in the late 18th century. It is also believed that the spelling Polglaze was adopted to distinguish the Cornish immigrants from the settlers who arrived in the United States at around the same time from Prussia, who adopted the spelling Pollglas.

The surname Pollglaze has also been linked to the spelling Pollaws, which is believed to be linked to the Cornish form of the name, ‘Poll-e-awse’, translated as ‘merchant’ or ‘shopkeeper’. In addition, variants of Polglaze that are seen in records may be associated with the surnames Palgez, Palgezze, Palsgrease, Palsgrese, and Pallsgrease, all of which are derived from the Cornish language and are believed to mean ‘little gardens’. Lastly, Polschultz is a Germanic variation of Polglaze, derived from the German words ‘Pol’ and ‘schulz’ meaning ‘head’ and ‘councillor’, respectively.

Famous people with the name Polglaze

• Robyn Polglaze: is a Canadian television presenter and actress, best known for hosting Breakfast Television from 1995 to 2009.
• Candace Polglaze: an Australian actress best known for her roles in TV series such as Neighbours, Winners & Losers and The Family Law.
• Roger Polglaze: an American singer-songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with The Raspberries, Jeffrey Osborne, and Tommy Byrnes.
• Alan Polglaze: a British tennis player, who won three Davis Cup titles with the UK team between 1971 and 1975.
• Richard Polglaze: an American set designer who is best known for his work on the Tony Award-winning Broadway productions The King and I and My Fair Lady.
• John Polglaze: a retired English professional footballer who made over 400 appearances in the Football League between 1971 and 1987.
• Tommy Polglaze: a British actor, writer and producer, best known for his work in the BBC medical drama Casualty.
• Fred Polglaze: an Australian actor best known for his roles in TV series such as Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away.

Other surnames

Polglase