Can you help me find where my last name came from?

Question

I understand from my parents, I am tring to find out what they mean and where they came from, my family has no idea....

My Dad's last name is Flaurr
My Mothers family name is Ponter
Thank you everyone for tring...

I get alot of people that ask me if I am German by the way I look, gosh I hope that is not a bad thing lol.. my pics are on my yahoo 360 if you need to see for yourself... thanks again everyone

Answer 1

Heather,

I found the information below on the last name Ponter. I haven't been able to find anything yet on Flaurr but I will keep trying.

I hope this helps!

PONTER

English

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ponder, Ponde, Pounder, Pondre, Pounter, Ponter and many more.

First found in Cambridgeshire where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Pondser settled in Virginia in 1638; John Ponder settled in Virginia in 1658; John Ponder settled in Maryland in 1674; Simon Ponder settled in Mississippi 1871.

FRENCH

Surname: Ponter
Recorded as Ponter and Punter, this is a surname of French origins. It is a topographical for a person who lived or worked on a causeway or road. This would have been raised above the surrounding landscape, and is from the Old French word "pont" introduced into England at the Norman Invasion of 1066, and ultimately is derived from the Latin "pons". Topographical surnames were amongst the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. The surname development includes recordings such as that of : Stephen le Punter of Somerset in 1243 and John Ponter of Shropshire in 1255. Amongst the sample recordings in the churcvh registers of the city of London are the marriage of George Punter and Grace Chaundler on August 7th 1643, and the christening of Austin, son of Austin and Elizabeth Ponter, on September 28th 1655, both at St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Punter. This was dated 1214, in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire, during the reign of King John of England, 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Answer 2

In Europe it was mostly Napoleon who brought it into common use. The French Empire (thus Napoleon) maintained a very thorough administration largely to keep fresh and steady supply of men for their army/military. So they needed a way to identify them and register them... So a lot of the nations that were conquered by Napoleon (virtually all of us) adopted their system. That's why a lot of people are called 'Janszoon' or 'Johansson' (translation: "John's Son" (or Johnson)). My surname is Salomons - it's a Jewish surname. I think they used surnames quite early on. I know King Solomon comes from that story, about the baby and two mothers, so I guess they named themselves after that?

Answer 3

Well, from your 360 I will say you from Utopia, but, I not sure that a country just a Heavenly state of mind. Wish I could help more, sorry.

Answer 4

You know - there is one way to be sure. Genealogy! Track your ancestors back generation by generation. First ask your parents and grandparents about their parents and grandparents, as far back as you can. Then the research adventure begins!

Answer 5

It is similar to some Belgian names I have seen, near the french Border...

Answer 6

You have to pay for geneology work. Sometimes you may find a free trial but I have never seen one where it is free

Answer 7

If I wpuld hazard a guess, by the sound of your name and your looks, one of the scandinavian countries. or maybe austrian. just a guess

Answer 8

hope this link helps,
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/Fact.aspx?&fid=5&ln=ponter&fn=
there was nothing on your dads last name , sorry!.
Diane.

Answer 9

try genealogy.com