Surname Poynor - Meaning and Origin
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Poynor: What does the surname Poynor mean?
The last name Poynor is of English origin and is believed to be a topographical name for a person from the town of Pirton (which is located in the county of Hertfordshire). The town's name is derived from Old English and means 'pear tree settlement'.
For many centuries, the Poynor surname was found mostly in Hertfordshire, but with increased migration over the centuries, it has also become a more widespread name. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was found in the 1379 Rolls of the Assizes Court of Hertfordshire, when Poyon of Pirton was recorded.
In England, the Poynor family is believed to have maintained a residence at Pirton since the 12th century. Throughout England's history, many of the family were prominent landowners in the area, and have been involved in agricultural and social affairs. To this day, there are still members of the Poynor family living in the area.
The Poynor name has also been used as a first name and is popular in the United States. The name is derived from the English surname and is typically seen as an anglicized version of the Welsh name, "Pwyll". In English, the Poynor name means "warrior" or "hero". It emphasizes a person's nobility and valor in battle.
Order DNA origin analysisPoynor: Where does the name Poynor come from?
The surname Poynor is most commonly found in the United States, primarily in the states of Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. However, Poynor is also found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. According to HouseOfNames.com, Poynor is a habitation name derived from the Old English pŷne meaning a dweller or inhabitant in a royal court.
In the United States, the highest concentration of the Poynor surname is located in Northeast Texas with an estimated population of 1,112 according to the 2019 US Census. The second highest concentration is in the state of Oklahoma with an estimated population of 261, followed by Mississippi with an estimated population of 169 and Arkansas with an estimated population of 68.
Other states with significant populations of Poynor carrying families include Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and California.
The Poynor surname has also spread all over the world and can now be found in numerous countries including England, Scotland, Germany, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, the name Poynor can also be found in countries such as France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and Denmark.
Variations of the surname Poynor
The surname Poynor is an Anglicized version of two other surnames from Britain and Ireland.
The Irish spelling is O'Poynor (or Ó Peighnír in Irish). The O’ prefix denotes a patronymic derived from the personal name Peigin (or Peighinn in Irish). The original Poynor ancestor was likely from County Galway.
The British spelling is de Poynor (or de Poinur in Norman French). The de Poynors were a Norman family that migrated to Britain after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Variations of the de Poynor spelling include De Poyner, De Poner, d'Poyner, d' Poner, De Poigner, De Poignor, De Poinur, and De Ponor.
Other variations of the surname include Porner, Poiner, Poyner, Poigner, Poignor, Poinur, and Ponor.
Thus, there are numerous variations of the surname Poynor that all trace back to the same Norman and Irish origins.
Famous people with the name Poynor
- Ralph Poynor, a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
- Richard Poynor, a British writer, designer, lecturer and cultural critic.
- Stephen Poynor, a 19th century lawyer and former speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.
- Ollie Poynor, a former American racecar driver who drove in the NASCAR Grand National Division in the 1950s.
- Carl Poynor, Sr., an American educator and founder of Central State University.
- Richard Earl Poynor, Jr., an American lawyer and former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
- James Poynor, an American baseball player who played in the minor leagues in the 1930s.
- Howard Poynor, an American football player who played in the National Football League in the 1940s.
- Shelia Poynor, an American politician and former member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Ken Poynor, an American basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association in the 1970s.