Surname Pontius - Meaning and Origin

Pontius: What does the surname Pontius mean?

Pontius is a Roman family name of uncertain etymology. It is believed to be derived from "pons," which in Latin translates to "bridge." Thus, it might signify a person who lives near a bridge or someone who builds bridges. Historically, Pontius was a name used widely in ancient Rome, among both the nobility and common citizenry. Today, it is most commonly recognized due to Pontius Pilate’s reference in the Christian New Testament as the Roman governor who presided over Jesus Christ’s trial. It should be noted that, like all surnames, the specific implication of the name could differ based on diverse family traditions or histories.

Pontius: Where does the name Pontius come from?

The Pontius surname is most commonly found in the United States today, and is of predominantly American origin. It is a locational name derived from Ponce in Extremadura, Spain. Many of the earliest Pontiuses known to have settled in America were pilgrims who lived in Maine or Massachusetts in the 1600s. The Pontius lineage also includes settlers who ventured to Plymouth and Virginia in the 1700s.

The Pontius surname can be found across the United States today, but is most heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has the highest concentration of Pontius families in the US, with the next highest being Ohio and Virginia. According to the 2019 US Census Bureau data, there are 1,750 Pontius families in Pennsylvania.

There are also a number of Pontius families in the UK. It is quite a rare surname, however, with only 0.015% of the population being reported to bear the name. The Pontius family can also be found in Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and other countries across the world.

The Pontius surname is a reminder of the perseverance and resourceful spirit of the earliest members of the Pontius family, who left their homes in search of a better life for their families in a relatively new and untamed America.

Variations of the surname Pontius

Pontius is a surname with several variants, spellings, and other related surnames. The most common variants of Pontius are Ponce, Poncet, Poncette, Poncy, and Pont. The Dutch variants of Pontius are Ponté and Van Der Pont. The Polish version is Poncy. The Hungarian version is Poncsak, and the Italian form is Ponti.

Other related surnames that are derived from Pontius include Panch, Paunce, Pauncefort, Pauncefoot, Poncheau, Pountney, Pountneye, and Pontifex.

Pontius is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the father's name. It is derived from the Latin word pontum which means ‘bridge’. Pontius is believed to be derived from a ‘pontifex’, a Latin rank which translates to bridge builder. It is also related to the Ancient Roman-Gaul name of Pontius Gallio, who was the proconsul of Achaia from 51– 52 AD.

Pontius is a popular surname in English and French-speaking countries as well as others, including Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. It can also be found in countries such as Italy, Hungary, and Poland. The surname Pontius is commonly found in the United States with around 20,000 named individuals as of 2018.

Famous people with the name Pontius

• Phil Pontius an American actor and songwriter
• Eddie Pontius an American professional golfer
• Clyde Pontius an American professional baseball player
• J. Ernest Pontius an American college football and basketball coach
• Reginald Williams Pontius an American surgeon and author
• Dorothy Yost Pontius an American writer
• John Pontius an American religious leader and author
• Bob Pontius an American Olympic swimmer
• Calvert Pontius II an American sailor
• Jeff Pontius II an American MMA fighter
• Jay Pontius an American National Champion wrestler and coach
• Willard Pontius an American heavyweight boxer
• Marjorie Pontius an American adult film actress
• Glenn A. Pontius an American Congressman from Ohio
• William Pontius an American politician
• Raymond L. Pontius an American Lieutenant Governor and politician
• David L. Pontius an American politician
• Frank G. Pontius an American politician
• Samuel C. Pontius an American politician
• Joe Pontius an American NFL player

Other surnames

PontingPontious