POTTEN surname:
from the Celtic-Roman potter Name POTTINUS
describing the water jug (French: POTIN), which became
the content of their coat of arms
SHORT CHRONOLOGY:
I belong to a special POTIN-family branch of
potters, stone masons, sculptors, painters, musicians etc..
Here are the main points:
3rd Century (POTTINUS/POTINO)
Artisans in Spain (esp. Galicia) and Southern France
Middle Ages (POTINUS/POT(T)IN)
King Sancho el Mayor of Navarra´ s relations with
William of Aquitaine are responsible for the POTINs from
Galicia (where King Sancho ruled,too) going to France. In short: The Reconquista against the Muslim occupation, the Way of St. James, the Cluny Reform, The Marian Order of the Jug and artisans´ interests - each factor is a reason for our family moving north exactly at that time.
1030 Saint-Jean-d´Angely (POTIN)
Arnaud Potin (orig. Hunaldus Potino), stone mason, became the benefactor of the Abbey by his restoring and building creativity. At the end of the century the abbey held a great feast in his memory on his annual birthday.
1150 Rochester (England), beginning of the English branch
(POTYN, POTIN, POTTEN)
1236 Douai (Flanders)
1292 Chartres
1321 Brussels (Netherlands change to POTTEN)
1340 Orleans
1395 Aalst (NL)
1439 Echt (NL)
1466 Paris
1500 Challans, Rouen
1500 Dongen (NL)
1610 Dreux
1633 Hörstgen (Germany POTTEN)
1700 Isselburg (Germany)