Potter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Potter arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a maker of clay or metal storage vessels 1 which was in turn derived from the Latin word potus, meaning to drink. While this is the traditional understanding of the word, another reference states: “the term meant an apothecary or druggist.” 2

Early Origins of the Potter family

The surname Potter was first found in various shires and counties throughout Britain. Search for the earliest record of the name revealed Seuard le potter who was listed in 1172 in Lincolnshire. A few years later, Geoffrey Poter was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1196 and John le Potier was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1197. Lambert le Pottur was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1214. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists Michael le Potere and John le Pottere in London, and Ranulph le Potter in Essex. 3

Secuard le Potter who appears in the Transcripts of the Charters relating to the Gilbertine Houses of Lincolnshire in 1172 and Geoffrey Poter is recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Leicestershire in 1196. John le Potier is listed in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1197 and Lambert le Pottur appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1214. Michael le Potere and John le Pottere are both recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of London in 1273. 1

The Pootter variant is fairly common in America as Robert Pootter is recorded in the Omitted Chapters of Hotten’s, “Original List of Persons of Quality and Others Who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations 1600-1700” and served with Colonel Bayley’s Company of Regiment of Foot in 1679-80. Later shipping records include one Stephen Pooter who emigrated from England to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania in 1859.