The Potts surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 38,277 people carried this name — #902 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 7,700 people counted. That is up 2% from 37,687 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Potts surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Philip’.

An early record he cites: Colin Pot, Lincolnshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Potts and Pott.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 618 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 23 people named Potts.

Most of them — 14 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 2 départements, most often Seine-Maritime.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 14
Seine-Maritime 8
Pas-de-Calais 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Potts was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Northumberland: 74 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 135. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Northumberland 74
Durham 32
Cheshire 20

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Potts was recorded 15 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1427th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 23. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

93 families named Potts, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 528 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 40
North Carolina 19
New York 10
South Carolina 9
Virginia 7
Maryland 5
Maine 1
Massachusetts 1
Connecticut 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 257 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Potts in American newspapers,
1851–1882.

Newspaper page from Eastern Times carrying the name Potts
Eastern Times 1851-03-06
Newspaper page from Helena Weekly Herald carrying the name Potts
Helena Weekly Herald 1882-10-05
Newspaper page from The People carrying the name Potts
The People 1870-02-10

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 522,149 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Potts in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

91,704 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Potts. The most, 15,840, date from the 1900s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 2.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 31,012
Queensland 20,063
Western Australia 16,458
Victoria 12,698
South Australia 8,924
Tasmania 1,930
ACT (Canberra) 425
Northern Territory 91

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Potts.

Who carried it

People named Potts,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Nicholas Potts d. 1623 · politician
  • John Potts d. 1597 · politician
  • Nancy Potts d. 2012 · costume designer
  • John Potts d. 1847 · naval officer
  • John Potts d. 1809 · explorer
  • Walter Jeffrey Potts d. 1898

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Potts,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,391 records

3,391 records of the Potts name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,361
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 610
  • Other U.S. records 1,420
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Wilmer Potts

    Born 1948; from Oakland, California. U.S. Army, cannon fire direction specialist; killed in action 1968 in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam. Buried at San Francisco National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Alton Potts

    Born 1924 in Tennessee. Enlisted 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; farm hand. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1977, buried at Nashville National Cemetery, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margt Potts

    Arrived at New York in 1853 aboard the Princeton from Liverpool, aged 20; domestic. From Fermanagh, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,391 records for Potts in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,238 records

1,238 records of the Potts name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 654
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 224
  • Other Australian records 360
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Potts

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lord William Bentinck, sailing from Portsmouth in 1838. Native of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. Married 1847 in Longford, Tasmania, aged 41.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record George Potts

    Died 1888 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 61. Will registered in Tasmania in 1888.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Potts

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Loch Ryan, aged 31; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,238 records for Potts in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada169 records

169 records of the Potts name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 70
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 34
  • Other Canadian records 65
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record G'o Potts

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Austrian, bound for Mitchell, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Charles Potts

    Killed in 1915 at the Allan Mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Charles Henry Potts

    Buried in 1922 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 71.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 169 records for Potts in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom95 records

95 records of the Potts name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 69
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 10
  • Other British records 16
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Janet Potts

    Buried in 1921 at Mar Place Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 66.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles Potts

    Will proved in 1932; of Port Talbot.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Robert W. Potts

    Killed or died by 1921. Named in the George Heriot's School roll of honour, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 95 records for Potts in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands37 records

37 records of the Potts name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 16
  • Dutch population registers 15
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 6
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Gerrit Potts

    In the population register of Kropswolde; manservant, born 1882 in Peize.

    Open Archives, Historisch Archief Midden-Groningen (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Martha Potts

    Married in 1729 in Rotterdam; born in England.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Wilhelm Pötts

    Married in 1841 in Tegelen; "pannenbakkersgezel", born 1811 in Kaldenkirchen.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 37 records for Potts in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand23 records

23 records of the Potts name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 5
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Myrtle Mary Jane Potts

    Died 1994, aged 89; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lily Marion Potts

    Died 1996, aged 72; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Henry Potts

    Buried in 1919 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 75.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Potts in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Germany11 records

11 records of the Potts name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Paul Potts

    From Rheydt, M.-Gladbach. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 17 June 1916; then reported missing in the list of 16 July 1917 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 25).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Bernhard Potts

    From Heede, Aschendorf i. Pr. Reported taken prisoner in the Prussian casualty list of 23 July 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 73).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 11 records for Potts in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

France7 records

7 records of the Potts name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Claude Andre Potts

    Born 1924 in Dieppe (Seine-Maritime); died 1985 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Elisabeth Emilie Camille Potts

    Born 1893 in Dieppe (Seine-Maritime); died 1984 in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Potts in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Potts.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Potts is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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