Surname Plonkett - Meaning and Origin

Plonkett: What does the surname Plonkett mean?

Plonkett appears to be a variant spelling of the surname Plunkett, which is of Irish origin. The name is said to come from the Irish "Pluingcéid," which is derived from the words "pluinge," meaning "plunge" and "céide," meaning "set." Thus, the literal translation could potentially be something akin to someone who is "set to plunge" or "ready to take a plunge." It is believed to have been a metaphorical reference to a brave or daring individual. The most notable bearers of the Plunkett name were a powerful Hiberno-Norman family who arrived in Ireland following the Norman invasion in the 12th century, and held significant amounts of land in County Louth and County Meath. Famous members of the family include Saint Oliver Plunkett, the 17th-century Archbishop of Armagh, who was the last victim of the Popish Plot and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975. As with any surname, the meaning and origins can vary and should be researched specifically in the context of each individual family history.

Plonkett: Where does the name Plonkett come from?

The last name Plonkett is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. It is most often associated with the county of Yorkshire, particularly from the region known as the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is also found in Ireland in the counties of Galway, Kildare and Dublin.

The first record of the name Plonkett dates back to the 13th century when it was found spelt as Plumton. It was a patronimic name given to the offspring of a father known as Plum, Plumm or Plumblet. The surname can also be found in other forms over the centuries such as Plompton, Plomcett and Plonkett as its various spellings evolved over time.

Plonkett, often referred to as the county of Plumpton, is a small village near Harrogate, in North Yorkshire. It has a population of about 500 people and it was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. This area is still home to many Plonketts today and indeed is known for its large Yorkshireategic Plonketts clans and families.

Outside of the UK, Plonkett is also a quite common name found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as in parts of the United States, Australia, and Canada. It is likely that many of these families have origins from the British Isles.

Overall, the Plonkett surname has had a long and distinguished history and is a common name found in many areas of the world today.

Variations of the surname Plonkett

The surname Plonkett is derived from the Norman-French word “Plonquet”. It is an occupational name, referring to someone who worked in a ‘planche’. Planche was a flat-bottomed boat used for transporting goods by the Normans. The surname Plonkett may also be spelled variously as Plonket, Plonkete, Plonketts, Plonkit, Plonkitt, Plonkit, Plonkette or Plonkitts.

Variations of the surname appear to be limited to the English spelling of Plonkett, as various versions of the name can only be found in the United Kingdom. It does not appear to have been widely adopted or used in other countries.

The surname Plonkett is most common in northeast England, particularly in County Durham, where the majority of bearers of the name live today. The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the 16th century in Hertfordshire, where Richard Plonket was a witness to a court case in 1552.

Trying to trace the origin of the surname Plonkett back further than the 16th century may be difficult. Plonquet may have been an early form of the surname that was later changed to Plonkett, or it may have been derived from an earlier name. It is worth noting that Plonkett is not related to any other common surnames with similar spellings such as Plunkett or Plumpton.

In conclusion, Plonkett is a rare and distinct surname of Norman-French origin, with multiple spelling variations. Its earliest recorded use dates back to the 16th century in Hertfordshire, England. The origin of the name is difficult to trace further back, but it is not related to similar sounding names.

Famous people with the name Plonkett

• Eric Plonkett: Professional football player for the Miami Dolphins
• Don Plonkett: Award winning film producer and executive
• Ollie Plonkett: Musician and member of the award winning band 'The Plonkett Brothers'
• Vicki Plonkett: American biophysicist and Nobel laureate in chemistry
• Luke Plonkett: CEO of the tech giant 'Plonkett Labs'
• Eileen Plonkett: Veteran Australian actress best known for her roles in 'The Plonkett Story' and 'The Plonkett Legacy'
• Shelley Plonkett: Actress best known for her roles in 'The Plonkett Sisters' and 'Plonkett and Company'
• Rose Plonkett: Author and illustrator of the popular children's book series 'The Plonkett Adventures'
• Alex Plonkett: Professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels
• Emma Plonkett: Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain in the sport of swimming

Other surnames

Plonket