Surname Poor - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Poor: What does the surname Poor mean?
The surname Poor is primarily of English origin but can also be traced back to Germany and Scotland. It derives from the Old English term "pauer," meaning "pauper or poor man," possibly indicating an individual's financial status during medieval times. It may have been a nickname given to someone suffering from poverty or ironically to a wealthy person. The name might also be occupational, related to someone who took vows of poverty as a part of religious obligation like monks or nuns. Alternatively, it may be locational, derived from "Pohore," a place in the Czech Republic, or from "Pohorje," a place in Slovenia. Like many surnames, the exact origin of Poor may differ among individuals bearing the name, as surnames often evolved independently in different regions. Over time, different spelling variations of the surname have emerged, including Poore, Pour, and Pore. An early record of the surname is found in the late 12th century in England. Notable people with this surname include American inventor and Standard & Poor's founder Henry Varnum Poor.
Order DNA origin analysisPoor: Where does the name Poor come from?
The last name Poor is most commonly found in the United States today. It is believed to have originated from England, with a few from other parts of Europe. It is believed to have derived from the French word "poure", or the Latin word "pauper", meaning "poor".
Within the United States, the Poor surname is most prevalent in the southern states along the Gulf Coast and the east coast, including cities like Houston, Texas and New York City.
The Poor surname might also be connected to the Irish surname Power or the Italian surname di Poer. In Irish records, some individuals with the last name Poor could also be found with the spelling Power. This surname originates from the Gaelic ‘O’ or ‘Ua’ prefix and the personal name ‘Padraig,’ which means ‘Patrick’ or ‘noble.’
The Poor surname is also associated with a hereditary coat of arms granted to the family of Thomas Poor of Cloucester, England. The design of the arms includes a blue shield with three silver crescents. This could mean that the family had once desired the symbol of protection and strength and the crescents could represent the moon phases, which were believed to keep witches and evil spirits away.
Though its use is becoming more rare, the last name Poor remains common in the United States today and is a reminder of the family’s long and varied history.
Variations of the surname Poor
The Poor surname is an English and German surname of Anglo-Saxon origin that is derived from the Middle English word “pore,” meaning “poor.” Historians believe that the surname originated from an occupational name for a shepherd or beggar. The variants and spellings of the name can vary significantly based on the language, region, and time period.
In England, variations of the Poor surname have included Paor, Paore, Powre, Pour, Pourre, Power, Poore, Pur, and others. In the German language, the surname is spelled Poer, Poerre, Poerrerer, Poorrer, Poerten, Poersen, Poerten, Poersch, Poersche, Poerscheib, and more.
In Scotland, variant spellings of the Poor surname have included Powr, Poure, and Murie. In Germany, some variants of the name include Poorth, Pflör, Pflur, Poch, Poech, and Poratz. In the Netherlands, some variants of the surname include Poerts, Puir, Puirt, Purre, and Puter.
Swiss variants of the Poor surname have included Puer, Puertes, Puerter, Puerths, Poorth, Powers, and Pauren. In Finland, the surname is spelled Poers, Poersch, Puurs, Puursen, Puursine, and Puorsu.
In a number of dialects, Poor drew its inspiration from multiple languages. In Germany, variants of the name have included Pouet, Poet, and Poetler; in France, some variants of the surname include Poittey, Poitry, and Poyet; and in Italy, variants of the name have included Poite, Poitello, Poitew, Poitex, and Poitier.
Variants of the Poor surname have also manifested in other languages and regions outside of Europe. In Russia, variations on the name have included Paroy, Paro, and Paroso; in India, variants of the name have included Paur, Prabhu, and Poudel; in the United States, variations on the name have included Porr, Poorr, and Pure.
Famous people with the name Poor
- General Robert Poor who was an American general in the Revolutionary War.
- Benjamin Poor who was a politician from Massachusetts and served as Congressman and Speaker of the House.
- Jordan Poor who was a professional golfer who won several tournaments and set a course record in the 1910 US Open.
- Tony Poor who was an American photographer famous for his stark black and white images.
- D.C.B.S. (Dan) Poor who was an Irish lawyer and politician and one of the main founders of the Irish Free State.
- Maggie Poor who was an American figure skater who competed in the Winter Olympics.
- Larry Poor who was an American Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Wilbur Poor who was an American painter and printmaker known for his abstract expressionist works.
- Roland Poor who was an American businessman who served as the president of Bellco Corporation and was vice president of the New York Stock Exchange.
- Herbert Poor who was an American astronomer who discovered several asteroids and comets and was the first to observe the sun from an airplane.