Pointon Family History

English (West Midlands) is a habitational name derived from various locations such as Pointon (Lincolnshire), which is recorded as Pochinton in 1086, Poynton (Cheshire), noted as Povinton in 1249, Poynton (Shropshire), listed as Peventone in 1086, or Povington (Dorset), recorded as Povintone in 1086.

The Lincolnshire placename likely originates from the Old English personal name Pohha combined with the Old English connective -ing- and tūn, meaning ‘farmstead’ or ‘estate’. Similarly, the Cheshire placename comes from an Old English personal name Pofa plus -ing- and tūn.

The placenames in Shropshire and Dorset are derived from the Old English personal name Pēofa with the same connective -ing- and tūn or possibly from the genitive form of the personal name Pēofan with tūn.

Alternatively, the origin may be linked to Pointhorne in Croxden (Staffordshire), suggesting a combination of Middle English point, meaning ‘spike’, and thorn, meaning ‘thorn tree’. This placename is historically recorded as Pointon in 1775.