Poythress: A Name With Many Trails and No Settled Origin
In 1727, John Poythress was granted 225 acres on the south side of the Maherin River in Brunswick County 1. The grant shows a Poythress holding away from the old Charles City lands 1.
In short
The evidence does not settle where the surname Poythress comes from. One reference says its variant Poytress originated as a nickname in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, meaning one who is scantily clad or in the buff 37. The Poyntz family, associated with Iron Acton in Gloucestershire, is the closest match to the name in this document, but the evidence does not connect the two 71. The earliest dated Poythress entries in the excerpt are 1720 records, including a court record for John Poythress (c. 1672-aft. 1726) as a gentleman justice, and that excerpt does not say when or where he or any other Poythress arrived in Virginia 16. The spelling has varied, with Poythress and Poytress 37 and the OCR form Foythress 54. A later branch moved from Georgia to Missouri 47, and Isaac Edwin Poythress, born in South Carolina in 1828, indicates that the family passed through South Carolina before settling in Screven County, Georgia 48. Today the name appears on Poythress Street in Hopewell, a city in the South 43, and on Poythress Road in Valentines, Virginia, in Brunswick County 79. The evidence contains no census count, so how many people carry the name now is unknown.
Medieval Echoes That Do Not Yet Connect
Within one document, the Poyntz surname is the closest match to Poythress 71. The Poyntz family held Iron Acton in Gloucestershire from the mid-14th century, and Anthony Poyntz inherited it 39. Readers who want to consult the family's history can turn to a genealogical memoir by Sir John Maclean, published in 1886 41.
Lambert le Peutrer and his wife Lucy released lands in Westminster to the abbot and convent of Vale Royal between 1311 and 1312 14.
1615 and the Rolfe Question
A marriage between Jane Poythress and Thomas Rolfe was recorded in London in 1615 13. Thomas Rolfe, the son of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, was born in January 1615 53.
One document says it is not even certain that Jane Rolfe's mother was actually a Poythress 52. An author rejected the spelling 'Poyers' for the name of John Rolfe's wife because no such name is known to exist in records 34. The same author argued that the family name Poythress was already established in Virginia near Rolfe's residence, supporting that spelling over others 35. That is the author's argument, not a documented fact. A footnote clarifies that 'Poyers' and 'Pyers' are spelling forms of the modern name Pierce or Peirce, and identifies the wife in question as the daughter of Lieutenant William Poyers 36.
The Rolfe line did continue. Jane Rolfe, daughter of Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress, was born at Varina in present-day Henrico County on October 10, 1650 51.
Colonial Virginia: Land, Courts, and Estates
The first documented Poythress presence in the excerpt is a 1720 court record for John Poythress, c. 1672 to after 1726, who appears as a gentleman justice 16. A 1720 deed shows him in Prince George County with his wife Mary 17. A 1738 deed acknowledged by John and Charles Poythress conveyed land to Francis Poythress, showing family land passing between relatives 73.
Land moved outward as well. John Poythress received 225 acres on the south side of the Maherin River in Brunswick County in 1727 1. In 1773 a Thomas Poythress of Martins Brandon Parish sold a Brunswick tract to William Rivers 3. A 1739 will in Prince George County divided the residue between the widow and five children, including Joshua, William, Ann, Elizabeth and Mary Poythress 74. After Maj. William Poythress died in 1795, his widow Mary became administratrix of his estate 75.
Members of the Poythress family appear in several documents from this period. In 1776 a Virginia Gazette notice names Joshua Poythress, senior, among the parties who would require bond and security for the rental of a ferry and plantation at Wilkins's ferry 46. In 1777 Peter Poythress served as executor of an estate in Prince George County, Virginia, one documented Poythress presence in the South at that time 44. Colonel Peter Poythress of Henrico County, who was the father of Anne Poythress, Richard Bland's first wife, is given the title 'Colonel,' but the document does not describe any militia commission, court seat, or other local post he held 12.
Spelling Shifts and Branches Moving South and West
A later Poythress branch moved from Georgia to Missouri, where Henry C. Poythress, son of Russell K. Poythress, died in Webster County in 1916 47. Isaac Edwin Poythress, a son of Meredith Poythress Jr., was born in South Carolina in 1828, indicating that the family passed through South Carolina before settling in Screven County, Georgia 48. W. J. Poythress relocated to Ironton, where he made his headquarters as General Agent for the Baldwin Piano 49.
The Civil War records show men from several places. Thomas M. Poythress served in a Virginia artillery regiment 55, and Pvt. John Louis Poythress served in Co. F of the 14th Virginia Infantry from May 1861 to October 1864 56. J.A. Poythress is listed in a Louisiana militia company 61, and several Poythress men appear in the 25th Georgia Infantry 62. The 1902 Virginia pension index lists W. L. Poythress with Mecklenburg County as his geographic subject 57.
Lives Recorded in the 1900s
Two Poythress men appear in the sources cited here, each in a different context. A 1911 Henderson, North Carolina paper names J. S. Poythress of Henderson as advertising two farms for sale at Redwood. The notice shows no public office, military service, or wider notability for him 26. Benjamin Poythress took a book-keeping job with the Carolina Bagging Company in Henderson after his marriage 32.
Where Things Stand Now (October 2026)
A street named Poythress Street is in Hopewell, a city in the South, and the city government was paving it 43. The Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority's administration building is at 350 E. Poythress Street in Hopewell, Virginia 4580. A road named Poythress Rd also appears in Valentines, Virginia, ZIP 23887, in Brunswick County, in property listings 777879, though those listings do not explain who the road was named for 77.
Other recent evidence is more personal. Madera County Supervisor Robert Poythress was elected president of CALCOG, the California Association of Councils of Governments, in a ceremonial decision 65. He had previously served as its First Vice President 66. CALCOG is made up of 47 member agencies that plan, fund, and implement transportation infrastructure projects across California 68. Courts have also used the name: the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Kent v. Poythress et al., an appeal from the Georgia Court of Appeals, on January 24, 1994 27. An Ohio decision, cited as State v. Poythress, 2024-Ohio-2911, is a 2024 case captioned City of Cleveland v. Markeeta Poythress, with the City as plaintiff-appellee 2830.
Still unknown
When and from where did the first Poythress settlers arrive in Virginia? The evidence starts with 1720 records and does not state an arrival date.
Is the Poytress nickname origin in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire connected to the Virginia Poythress family, or is it only a shared spelling?
How many people carry the Poythress name in the United States today, and in which states are they concentrated? No current census or surname count is in the evidence.
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Sources
"On 13 October 1727, as Capt. John Poythress, he was granted 225 acres on the south side of the Maherin River in Brunswick Co."Poythress Connections to Wall Family in Virginia, by Lou Poole
"According to the Prince George Tax records, in 1800 Elizabeth Cocke devised to her son James Cocke a tract of land called ‘Goodwins’ which had been left her by her brother John Poythress."Poythress Connections to Wall Family in Virginia, by Lou Poole
"This same tract was sold by a Thomas Poythress of Martins Brandon Parish, P. George to Wm. Rivers 13 May 1773."Poythress Connections to Wall Family in Virginia, by Lou Poole
"Clark yelled to Poythress about the fuel pressure warning lights, and Poythress assumed the flight engineer's seat."Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8
"Clark yelled to Poythress about the fuel pressure warning lights, and Poythress assumed the flight engineer's seat."8
"Poythress told Conway that he did not believe he could restart either right-side engine, and that he recommended landing the airplane."Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8
"Poythress shut down engine No. 4 and tried to restart No. 3."8
"Poythress told Conway that he did not believe he could restart either right-side engine, and that he recommended landing the airplane."8
"In the spring of 1861, eager young men gathered in small towns in five southeastern North Carolina counties and enlisted in ten local companies."The Eighteenth North Carolina Infantry Regiment, C.S.A. (1992)
"Francis Poythress John Poythress"List of members of the Virginia House of Burgesses
"Militia officer grades are shown only if they are identified as such or included with a military grade title (e.g. captain) on a list of burgesses in a source or in a thumbnail or other biography."List of members of the Virginia House of Burgesses
"was the daughter of Colonel Peter and Ann Poythress, from Henrico County, Virginia"Richard Bland
"Among the recordings of the name in Church Registers are those of the marriage of Jane Poythress and Thomas Rolfe in London, in 1615, and the marriage of Charles Poytress and Sarah Clarke at Tirley in Gloucestershire, on February 9th 1807."SurnameDB · saved copy
"E 40/1538 1311-1312 Release by Lambert le Peutrer, and Lucy his wife, to the abbot and convent of Vale Royal of the lands, etc, in Westminster, that b..."Browse records of other archives · saved copy
"Among the recordings of the name in Church Registers are those of the marriage of Jane Poythress and Thomas Rolfe in London, in 1615, and the marriage of Charles Poytress and Sarah Clarke at Tirley in Gloucestershire, on February 9th 1807."SurnameDB · saved copy
"1720 John Poythress (c. 1672-aft. 1726), gentleman justice, court record"Virtual Census of Poythress Records PDF · saved copy
"1720 John Poythress, Sr. (c. 1672-aft. 1726), of Prince George County, and wife, Mary, deed"Virtual Census of Poythress Records PDF · saved copy
"Mrs. Ayscue is the former Misa Elizabeth Poytress."Image 10 of Roanoke Rapids daily herald (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.), October 1, 1948
"Chandler , and its variant spellings, is a family name that originated as an occupational surname in medieval England. It applied to a person involved in making or selling candles and similar articles."Chandler (surname)
"Jean Favier donne une estimation de 65 000 immigrants normands, ce qui reste modeste par rapport à la population de l'Angleterre d'alors, estimée à un million d'habitants"
"While Fletcher was the occupational name, it was more often not the surname of a fletcher or arrowsmith professional."Fletcher (surname)
"La famille de Beaumont est une famille normande , partie des grandes familles baronniales anglo-normandes qui s'enracinèrent en Angleterre après la conquête normande ."
"The earliest records as a surname are attested in Anglo-Norman by Matthew le Candeler in London in 1274 and William le Chandeler in Essex in 1275."Chandler (surname)
"Fletcher is an Anglo-Norman surname of French , English , Scottish and Irish origin."Fletcher (surname)
"It corresponds to the Norman-Picard and (northern) French surnames Candelier , Chandelier and Lechandelier "candle maker"."Chandler (surname)
"Apply to J. S. POYTHRESS, Henderson, N. C."Image 3 of Henderson gold leaf (Henderson, N.C.), May 25, 1911
"Appeal from the Ct. App. Ga. 2 Certiorari denied."Kent v. Poythress (Supreme Court of the United States, 1994-01-24) · saved copy
"CITY OF CLEVELAND, : Plaintiff-Appellee, : No. 113482 v. :"State v. Poythress (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2024-08-01) · saved copy
"Kentv.Poythress et al. No. 93-7086."Kent v. Poythress (Supreme Court of the United States, 1994-01-24) · saved copy
"[Cite as State v. Poythress, 2024-Ohio-2911.]"State v. Poythress (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2024-08-01) · saved copy
"John Poythress of Henderson has been fined $1,000 for bringing sixty suitcases of bonded whiskey into the State on a railroad train."Image 3 of The independent (Elizabeth City, N.C.), December 5, 1919
"Mr. Poythress has secured a posi posi-sion - sion posi-sion as book-keeper with the Caro Carolina - lina Carolina Bagging Company"Image 3 of The gold leaf (Henderson, N.C.), February 23, 1911
"The descendants of this couple are numerous, and have included many persons of distinction in the public life of the nation."Image 38 of Evening star (Washington, D.C.), April 5, 1914
"I adopt "Jane Povthress" (not Poyers),* whom he is stated in the " Boiling Memoirs" to have married in England : I. Because no such name as "Poyers" is anywhere known, so far as I am advised."Pocahontas, alias Matoaka, and her descendants through her marriage at Jamestown, Virginia, in April, 1614, with John Rolfe, gentleman; including the names of Alfriend, Archer, Bentley, Bernard, Bland, Boling, Branch, Cabell, Catlett, Cary, Dandridge, Dixon, Douglas, Duval, Eldridge, Ellett, Ferguson, Field, Fleming, Gay, Gordon, Griffin, Grayson, Harrison, Hubard, Lewis, Logan, Markham, Meade, McRae, Murray, Page, Poythress, Randolph, Robertson, Skipwith, Stanard, Tazewel, Walke, West, Whittle, and others (1887)
"2. Because the family of Poythress was already settled in Virginia, and in the immediate neighborhood of Rolfe's residence at Henricopolis (but a few miles below, and on the opposite side of the river)— Francis Poythress appearing as a member of the House of Burgesses, A. D. 1644, for Charles City"Pocahontas, alias Matoaka, and her descendants through her marriage at Jamestown, Virginia, in April, 1614, with John Rolfe, gentleman; including the names of Alfriend, Archer, Bentley, Bernard, Bland, Boling, Branch, Cabell, Catlett, Cary, Dandridge, Dixon, Douglas, Duval, Eldridge, Ellett, Ferguson, Field, Fleming, Gay, Gordon, Griffin, Grayson, Harrison, Hubard, Lewis, Logan, Markham, Meade, McRae, Murray, Page, Poythress, Randolph, Robertson, Skipwith, Stanard, Tazewel, Walke, West, Whittle, and others (1887)
"Poyers or Pyers, o'ne of the forms of spelling the modern Pierce or Peirce. The third wife of John Rolfe was Jane, daughter of Lieutenant William Poyers, Pyers or Peirce, of"Pocahontas, alias Matoaka, and her descendants through her marriage at Jamestown, Virginia, in April, 1614, with John Rolfe, gentleman; including the names of Alfriend, Archer, Bentley, Bernard, Bland, Boling, Branch, Cabell, Catlett, Cary, Dandridge, Dixon, Douglas, Duval, Eldridge, Ellett, Ferguson, Field, Fleming, Gay, Gordon, Griffin, Grayson, Harrison, Hubard, Lewis, Logan, Markham, Meade, McRae, Murray, Page, Poythress, Randolph, Robertson, Skipwith, Stanard, Tazewel, Walke, West, Whittle, and others (1887)
"English : variant of Poytress a Worcestershire and Gloucestershire surname originally a nickname for one who is scantily clad or in the buff"Individual : POYTHRESS - Search the Genealogy Library
"The evidence base for this investigation relies on the reconstruction of officeholding from the court rolls of three case-study manors. These consist of Little Downham (Cambs.), Horstead (Norf.) and Worfield (Salop.)."Manorial Officeholding in Late Medieval and Early Modern England, 1300-1600 (2018)
"he inherited Iron Acton , which his family had held since the mid-14th century."Anthony Poyntz
"Mary who married Edward Gorges of Wraxall, Somerset"Anthony Poyntz
"Historical and genealogical memoir of the family of Poyntz"Anthony Poyntz
"a strong Quaker presence in Isle of Wight County reached up even into the ranks of the justices, differentiating them from the conventional conception of colonial Virginia's gentry class""Men of Substance and Ability of Body and Estate": Justices of the Peace and the Rise of a Creole Elite in Isle of Wight County, Virginia at the Turn of the Seventeenth Century (2010)
"Please be aware that street paving is underway along Poythress Street , including the area in front of the Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority (HRHA) Administration Building"STREET PAVING NOTICE - POYTHRESS... - Hopewell City Govt - Facebook · saved copy
"PEsissiER POYTHRESS, Execncor."Image 4 of The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg [Va.]), July 18, 1777
"the Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority (HRHA) Administration Building at 350 E. Poythress Street ."STREET PAVING NOTICE - POYTHRESS... - Hopewell City Govt - Facebook · saved copy
"for which bond and security wili be required by Gzonoa Noamc, ad JOSHUA POYTHRESS, sen."Image 6 of The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg, Va.), September 13, 1776, (SUPPLEMENT)
"Henry C Poythress [2nd son of Russell K Poythress], (10/26/1855 GA-1/27/1916 Webster Co., Mo.)"Joseph Poythress (c. 1788 · saved copy
"Born 28 May 1828 in South Carolina."Family Group Sheet for Thomas Poythress (Virginia) · saved copy
"Mr. W. J. Poythress is now lo located - cated located and will hereafter make his headquarters at Ironton. He is General Agent for the celebrated Baldwin Piano, and will be pleased to respond to any business calls."Image 5 of Iron County register (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.), February 29, 1912
"Thomas and his wife, Jane Poythress, had a daughter, Jane Rolfe"Pocahontas
"who was born in Varina, in present-day Henrico County, Virginia , on October 10, 1650."Pocahontas
"But it's not even certain that she was even a Poyt..."Jane (Unknown) Rolfe (abt.1630-1679) · saved copy
"she bore their son, Thomas Rolfe , in January 1615."Pocahontas
"their son, Thomas Rolfo, married Miss Foythress; Jane Rolfe, their daughter, married Robert Bolling"Image 35 of The times dispatch (Richmond, Va.), April 3, 1904, (MAGAZINE SECTION)
"Poythress , Thomas M. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 2nd Regiment, Virginia Artillery"National Park System Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System · saved copy
"Pvt. John Louis Poythress (1829-1905), son of Edward Poythress (1798-aft. 1860), Co. F, 14th Regiment, VA. Infantry. [documented service from May 12, 1861, through Oct. 27, 1864]"Poythress in War 1776 · saved copy
"Subject -Geographic Mecklenburg County (Va.)"LVA Poythress Military Records · saved copy
"44th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Petersburg City Battalion)"National Park System Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System · saved copy
"Poythress in War 1776 – 1865"Primary Records Directory · saved copy
"Scott’s Company, Virginia Local Defense (Company A, Greensville County Home Guard)"National Park System Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System · saved copy
"Bickham’s Company, Louisiana (Caddo Militia)"National Park System Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System · saved copy
"25th Regiment, Georgia Infantry"National Park System Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System · saved copy
"Before. the Revolution, Lieutenant Poythress lived with his family in Prince George county"Image 9 of Peninsula enterprise (Accomac, Va.), July 28, 1928, (Second Section)
"states that Sallie Bland Poythre-s. 16 years old. march-d Richard Lee."Image 6 of The Montgomery advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.), April 13, 1902
"Madera County Supervisor Robert Poythress was elected as the President of CALCOG, the California Association of Councils of Governments, in a ceremonial decision made on December 8."Poythress named president of Councils of Governments
"Poythress, who previously served as the First Vice President of CALCOG, brings a wealth of experience to his new role"Poythress named president of Councils of Governments
"representing the Madera County Transportation Commission in his role."Poythress named president of Councils of Governments
"CALCOG is comprised of 47 member agencies and spans a broad spectrum of California’s diverse communities."Poythress named president of Councils of Governments
"Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"Poynings or Ponyngs, Michael de, second Baron Poynings (1317–1369) (2018)
"it has been suggested that she was a member of the Poyntz family of Iron Acton , Gloucestershire, possibly Elizabeth, daughter of William Huddesfield"Henry, Duke of Cornwall
"Members of the Poyntz family, of Iron Acton , Glos."St Mark's Church, Bristol
"It should be distinguished from the Poyntz Chapel in Iron Acton Church, the family's chapel as lords of the manor."St Mark's Church, Bristol
"September 12, 1738, in Prince George County, John Poythress and Charles Poythress acknowledged their deed for land, indented and sealed, to Francis Po..."Charles Poythress (before 1717
"All the rest of my estate to be equally divided between wife and five children Joshua, William, Ann Poythress, Elizabeth Poythress and Mary Poythress"Rev. 4/1/05 Prince George Records Mar 1701/2 List of Prince ...
"Death reported, Maj. William Poythress, his admx. is Mary Poythress of Prince George County."Rev. 4/1/05 Prince George Records Mar 1701/2 List of Prince ...
"Joshua Poythress (estate) 404"Rev. 4/1/05 Prince George Records Mar 1701/2 List of Prince ...
"See Poythress Rd, VA 23887, a single family home."Poythress Rd, VA 23887 - realtor.com
"0 Poythress Rd, Valentines, VA 23887 | Zillow"0 Poythress Rd, Valentines, VA 23887 | Zillow
"Browse property records on Poythress Rd in Valentines, VA by county, city, zip, or street level."Poythress Rd, Valentines, VA Property Records | realtor.com®
"the area in front of the Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority (HRHA) Administration Building at 350 E. Poythress Street."Hopewell, VA | STREET PAVING NOTICE - POYTHRESS STREET Please be ...