Surname Pummeroy - Meaning and Origin

Pummeroy: What does the surname Pummeroy mean?

The surname Pummeroy is of English origin, specifically from the West Country in southwestern England. It is believed to have derived from the Norman French name "de Beauchamp" translating to "beautiful field." During the Norman invasion, a member of the de Beauchamp family was granted the Pomeroy Castle and lands in Devon, and subsequently adopted the name.

Pummeroy is an anglicized form of the name "Pomeroy," which originates from the Old French words "pomme" meaning "apple" and "roi" indicating "king." Hence, the name Pummeroy loosely translates to "apple king." This could possibly signify that the family owned apple orchards or it may suggest a symbolic reference to fertility or prosperity.

However, ancestral names can possess several meanings across different cultures, regions, and periods. While the details might differ, ancient last names like Pummeroy often reflect the occupation, location, or status of our ancestors. Therefore, interpretations may vary.

Pummeroy: Where does the name Pummeroy come from?

The surname Pummeroy is a locational surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, now most commonly found in England and Ireland. Derived from the Old English terms, 'Pumaer', meaning ‘pigeon-keeper or ‘pigeon-owner’, and ‘leah’ meaning ‘wood’ or ‘clearing’, the surname Pummeroy could represent a family who owned and kept pigeons in a wood, or in a clearing.

Today, the surname Pummeroy is fairly uncommon, but is still present in small pockets across England and Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the highest concentrations of Pummeroy families can be found in the counties of Northumberland in the north of England, and Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire in the south. For those residing in Ireland, Pummeroy is particularly common in counties Cork and Kerry in the extreme south-west of the country.

Thanks to the accessibility of family history records, the number of people carrying the Pummeroy surname is likely to increase somewhat as more people are discovering lineage and distant relatives. It is also an interesting surname to research, as it has multiple interpretations and could represent a family's farming or hunting origins.

Variations of the surname Pummeroy

The surname Pummeroy (also spelled Pomeroy, Pommeroy, Pummery, Pomerey, Pomery, Pommerey, Pommelry, Pomellry, Pummerry, Pomereye, and Pomerye) is thought to be of Norman French origin. It is believed to be derived from the Old French words 'pomer' and 'roy', meaning 'apple' and 'king', respectively. This indicates that the original bearers of the surname were likely to have been apple farmers or royalty.

The variants of the surname are quite varied. While spellings like 'Pomeroy' are more common, there are many others such as 'Pomery', 'Pommelry', 'Pomellry', and 'Pomerrey'. Other variants include 'Pummery', 'Pommerey', and 'Pummerry'.

Surnames of similar origin to Pummeroy include Pomfret, Pomfrett, and Palfrey. These could all be derived from the same Norman French root as 'pomer' and 'roy'. The surname Palfrey may have originated in Cornwall, England and is thought to come from the words 'palfredus' or 'palfer', which have Old English roots.

In addition, the related surname 'Pomerance' (also spelled Pommerance and Pomeranz) is of Jewish origin. It is believed to have originate from the Germanic terms 'pom' and 'walþu', which mean 'apple' and 'sovereignty', respectively.

Overall, Pummeroy is a surname of Norman French origin that has various spellings and related surnames. It likely originated from the words 'pomer' and 'roy', which mean 'apple' and 'king' respectively. Spellings of the surname may vary, while variants and related surnames come from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Famous people with the name Pummeroy

• Mike Pummeroy: Professional American basketball player, currently playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
• James Pummeroy: British actor, known for his performances in the films Lock, Green Street, and Underworld.
• Billy Pummeroy: Actor and director, known for his work in productions such as Sunday in the Park with George, and TV shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Adele Pummeroy: American celebrity chef and cookbook author.
• Amy Pummeroy: Former professional British basketball player and executive with the Leicester Riders Foundation.
• Charlotte Pummeroy: British stage and TV actress, with credits in works such as Romeo and Juliet, Doctor Who, and The Night Manager.
• William Pummeroy: English Jesuit priest and theologian, best known for his work in the area of moral theology.
• Derek Pummeroy: British geologist and academic, credited with numerous scientific papers, books, and discoveries in his career.
• Arthur Pummeroy: South African zoologist and botanist, with a range of scientific discoveries mainly related to amphibian and reptile anatomy.
• Fred Pummeroy: English football player, who played for clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City during his career.

Other surnames

Pummery