Find out how popular the last name Poynter is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Poynter.

Poynter, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Poynter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poynter in America

Poynter is the 7830th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poynter surname appeared 4,229 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Poynter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poynter to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Poynter

The surname Poynter has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "poindre," meaning "to prick" or "to spur," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a horseman or a knight.

The name Poynter was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Gloucestershire in the southwestern region of England. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name, referring to those who trained or managed horses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poynter can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it appears as "Pointur." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, the name Poynter was documented in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Poyntur." This record provides evidence of the name's widespread use during this period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Poynter. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the name, such as Poindon and Pointington.

One notable individual with the surname Poynter was Sir John Poynter, a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the 15th century. He was born around 1420 and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses.

Another noteworthy figure was William Poynter, an English painter and etcher who lived from 1762 to 1827. He is renowned for his landscape and historical paintings, which were highly acclaimed during his lifetime.

In the literary world, Ambrose Poynter (1796-1886) was a notable English antiquarian and writer who published several works on the history and antiquities of Somerset.

The Poynter surname also has connections to the United States, with individuals such as Edward Poynter (1836-1919), an English painter and sculptor who served as the President of the Royal Academy from 1896 to 1918.

Lastly, Sir Ambrose Poynter (1867-1923) was a prominent English architect and designer who made significant contributions to the Arts and Crafts movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poynter

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Poynter.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Poynter was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Poynter has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Poynter was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Poynter, please contact us.

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