Surname of the Marquesses of Winchester and Dukes of Bolton

[S. S.]

Does anyone have any documentary evidence or the reason as to why the Dukes of Bolton altered their surname from "Paulet" to "Powlett" and its derivatives? I always wondered if it was merely their way of spelling the name or the spelling conventions of their period. 

S.S.

[malcolm davies]

Shahaan,

                I don't think there is an answer.Remember that there were Earls Poulett (that title becoming extinct in 1973).The common ancestor for both the Marquesses of Winchester and Earls Poulett was Sir Thomas Paulet who died in the first half of the 15th century.His eldest son William founded the family of Paulet of Hinton St George in Somerset.Anthony, his ggggs, changed the family name to Poulett.The family name derives from Paulet in Somerset which was originally Pavelet and is now  Pawlett.I think it has to do with spelling conventions of the period.

[S. S.]

Thank you for the information Malcolm. The spelling convention theory makes more sense. 

S.S.

[jeffn...@gmail.com]

The following extract is from B P ed. 1850, pgs. 100- 01, under  the name Bolton, related to Paulet/  Powlett:

"Charles Paulet, 5th Duke of Bolton, d.in 1765, leaving a natural daughter Jeann Mary Paulet, on whom,

in failure of the male issue of his said brother, his grace entailed the greater part of his extensive estates.

This lady m. 7 April, 1778, Thomas Orde, Esq. b. in1746 who was secretary to the Treasury in 1782, and

afterwards secretary to the Duke of Rutland, when Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland, and was sworn of the privy

council in that kingdom. in 1795 Mr. Orde having inherited, in right of his wife, the great estate of the Duke

of Bolton, assumed by sign- manual, the additional surname and arms Powlett, and was elevated to the peerage

20 Oct.1797, as Baron Bolton of Bolton Castle."

[S. S.]

For what it is worth, here is the CP entry I created for the Dukes of Bolton and Barons Bolton.

S.S.