About us
Introduction
Goals
Goals of the project are summarized as follows:
Origins of the Punchard Surname
References
Other Resources
In his 1894 book PUNCHARD OF HEATON-PUNCHARDON. RECORDS OF AN UNFORTUNATE FAMILY the Reverend Elgood George Punchard, D.D. Oxon. theorised that all Punchards are descended from Robert de Punchardon, a supporter of William the Conqueror. This project aims to use Y-DNA to see if we can add evidence to his theory.
My paternal grandmother was a Punchard so I have a special interest in this surname.
Best Regards,
Gavin Rayner
Project Administrator
Goals
Goals of the project are summarized as follows:
- To establish whether all the different Punchard families are genetically related to a single progenitor of the surname within the last 1000 years. For example, are the Devon, Norfolk, Suffolk and American families all branches of the same genetic family?
- To build a Punchard genetic family tree focusing on the period of time before parish registers.
- To help members find the best focus for further documentary research.
- To document and publish the results along the way so that others can derive the maximum benefit from the project.
Origins of the Punchard Surname
Variants: Puncher, Pinchard
- Main GB location 1881: E Anglia; Devon
Norman, English: (i) relationship name from the Old Norman French personal name Ponchard , Old French Ponsard , a pet form of Ponce (see POINTS). (ii) locative name; some instances of Punchard may be reduced forms of (de) Ponchardon , a Norman surname derived from Pontchardon (Orne). Members of this family held lands in Lincs and Devon in the 12th century and later.
Early bearers:
Robert Puncard, 1230 in Pipe Rolls (Oxon); Oliver Punchard(e), 1243 in Assize Rolls (Somerset); Ralph Punchard(e), 1255 in Ramsey Cartulary (Hunts); Geoffrey Puncard alias Punzard, 1265 in Inquisitiones post Mortem (Berks); Fray Punchard, 1232 in Feet of Fines (Oxon); Fray Punsard, 1279 in Hundred Rolls (Oxon); Thomas Pouchard (perhaps in error for Ponchard), 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Bristol, Gloucs); Johannes Ponsard, 1377 in Poll Tax (Colchester, Essex); Willelmus Puncherd, 1377 in Poll Tax (Newton by Toft, Lincs); Walterus Punchard, 1381 in Poll Tax (Winchcomb, Gloucs); Anthonye Punchard, 1542 in IGI (Georgeham, Devon); Gracia Punchard, 1568 in IGI (Grundisburgh, Suffolk); Symon Puncher, 1595 in IGI (Little Bealings, Suffolk); Oliv. Puncher, 1620 in IGI (Bodmin, Cornwall); Anne Punchard, 1634 in PROB 11 (Barnstaple, Devon); Robt Puncher, 1640 in IGI (Salle, Norfolk).
- E. G. Punchard (1894) Punchard of Heanton-Punchardon: Records of an Unfortunate Family. A few copies only: For private circulation.
- Punchard One-Name Study
Other Resources