The history of the most ancient Anglo/Saxon surname of Paynter reaches far into the chronicles of the Saxon race. The Saxon Chronicles, compiled by the monks in the 10th century now reposes in the British Museum.

History researchers have examined reproductions of such ancient manuscripts as the Doomsday Book (1086 ), the Ragman Rolls (1291-1296), the Curia Regis Rolls, the Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, the Hearth Roll , parish registers, baptismals, tax records and other ancient documents. They found the first record of the name Paynter in Cornwall where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Different spellings were encountered in the research of Paynter surname. Throughout the centuries the name occurred in many records, manuscripts and documents but not always with the exact spelling of 'Paynter'. From time to time the surname included the spellings Paynter, Painter, and these variations in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes and church officials, often travelling great distances, even from other countries, frequently spelt the names phonetically. As a result the same person would be recorded differently on birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates as well as other numerous records recording life's events.

The Saxon race gave birth to many English surnames not the least of which was the surname Paynter. The Saxons were invited into England by the ancient Britons of the4th century. A fair skinned people their home was the Rhine valley, some as far north as Denmark. They were led by two brothers, General/Commanders Hengist and Horsa. The Saxons settled in the county of Kent on the south east coast of England. Gradually they spread north and westward, and during the next four hundred years forced Ancient Britons back into Wales and Cornwall in the west and Cumberland to the north. The Angles occupied the eastern coast, the south folk in Suffolk, north folk in Norfolk . Under Saxon rule England prospered under a series of High Kings, the last of which was Harold.

In 1066, the Normans invaded from France and were victorious at the Battle of Hastings. In 1070, Duke William took an army of 40,000 north and wasted the northern counties, forcing many rebellious Norman nobles and Saxons to flee over the border into Scotland. Meanwhile, the Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under the hostile Norman oppression.

Nevertheless, this notable English family name Paynter, emerged as an influential name in the county of Cornwall where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated as Lords of the manor of Lithney and estates in that shire, where there are many monuments to their existence. They also acquired the lands of Deverell in neighbouring Gwinear and also Trelissick in the parish of St. Erth. By the 13th century they had branched into Sprole in Norfolk, and Twidall in Kent. They flourished on their estates for several centuries. Notable amongst the family was William Paynter of Deverall.

The surname Paynter flourished during the turbulent middle ages, contributing greatly to the cultural development of England. During the 15th, 16th,17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by plagues, famine, and religious conflict. Protestantism, the newly found political fervour of Cromwellianism and democratic government, and the remnants of the Roman Church rejected all non believers, each jealously claiming adherents to their own cause. The changing rule caused burnings, hangings and banishments of sects all and creeds, first one then another. Many families were "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland, or to the "colonies". Some were rewarded with grants of lands, others were banished.

Some families were forced to migrate to Ireland where they became known as Adventurers for land in Ireland. Protestant settlers "undertook" to keep their faith, being granted lands previously owned by the Catholic Irish. There is no evidence that the family name migrated to Ireland, but this does not preclude the possibility of their scattered migration to that country.

The New World offered better opportunities and some migrated voluntarily, some were banished mostly for religious reasons. Some left Ireland disillusioned with promises unfulfilled, but many left directly from England, their home territories. Some also moved to the European continent.

Members of the family name Paynter sailed aboard the huge armada of three masted sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships such as the Hector, the Dove and the Rambler, were pestilence ridden, sometimes 30% to 40% of the passenger list never reaching their destination, their numbers reduced by dysentery, cholera, smallpox and typhoid.

Amongst the first settlers in North America, which could be considered a kinsman of the surname of Paynter, or a variable spelling of that family name was Regina Paynter who arrived in Philadelphia in 1734 ; Thomas, Robert and William Paynter all settled in Virginia in 1643.

From the port of entry many settlers made their way west, joining the wagon trains to the prairies on to the west coast. During the American War of Independence, many loyalists made their way north to Canada about 1790, and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.

Contemporary notables of this surname, Paynter, include many distinguished contributors:-

Air Commodore Noel Paynter;
Thomas Paynter, Union Leader.

During the course of our research we also determined the many Coat of Arms granted to different branches of the family name.

Paynter Coat of Arms The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms was:
... Blue with three silver squares each charged with a ring.

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sources:
14 January 2000 - Fairbairn's Heraldic Crests
4 Febuary 2000 - Pine's Dictionary of mottoes