Hardly a week goes by without someone asking this question, then the guessing game begins....Most people think of Poland or some other Eastern European country, but the name is British, I use the word British rather than English because the people who live in that part of the British Isles do not consider themselves to be English, they have their own language and culture of Celtic origins and as anyone who has visited this part of Britain would confirm, it is like nowhere else in Britain.

This is the place where the first Steam Engine was invented to pump water out of the mines and was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, nowadays it is one of the most popular places for Holidays/Vacations in Britain.

If you haven't figured out where this place is yet the next clue is a little recitation:

By Ros, Car, Lan. Tre, Pol, or Pen, ye may know most CORNISH men.

In Cornish "Pol" means Pool, Pit, Pond, Inlet, etc. The "kinghorn" part is from the Cornish "Kynhorn" which translates into English as "Iron Chief" so the name translates as "The Pool of the Iron Chief"

Polkinghorne is a place name, Polkinghorne is situated just to the north of the village of Gwinear, a few miles east of Hayle in west Cornwall, the earliest documentary evidence of the name is in 1299 when Roger de Polkinghorne of Polkinghorne settled there and was granted Arms by Edward III. The Arms being: Argent- Three bars Sable. The Crest being An arm in armour, embowed, holding a Battleaxe proper.

The family lived at Polkinghorne Manor at least until 1662, when Mary Polkinghorne, daughter & hieress of Otho Polkinghorne married Thomas Glynn, this is where the Polkinghorne"Armigerous" line ends to become part of the Glynn family.

In the Protestation Returns for Cornwall in 1641 there are 28 Polkinghorne's listed:

Here is a list of Polkinghorne's & Their Parishes from the Protestation Returns:

Gwinear:                     Otho Polkinhorne (bearer of the Polkinghorne Arms)
Illogan:                        Edward Polkinhorne (churchwarden)
Breage:                      Stephen Polkinhorn: Samuel Polkinhorn: Nicholas Polkinhorn: Henry Polkinhorn:
                                  Robert Polkinhorn.
Gwennap:                   Martyn Polkinhorne
Helston:                      Ja Polkinhorne: John Polkinhorne
Mullion:                       John Polkinghorne
St Gluvias:                  Thomas Polkinehorne
St Keverne:                 William Polkinhorne: John Polkinhorne
Crowan:                      Roger Polkinhorne: Alexander Polkinhorne: Alex Polkinhorne
Uny Lelant:                  Ralph Polkinhorne
Penzance Town:          Roger Polkenhorne: Henry Polkinhorne (Mayor)
St Columb Major:        Thomas Pokinghorne: Richard Pokinghorne
St Enoder:                  Richard Polkinghorne
Gerrans:                    Joseph Polkinghorne
Kenwyn:                     William Polkinhorn
Merthyr:                     William Polkinghorne
Probus:                      Thomas Polkinghorne
St Stephen in Brannel: Isaacke Pokinhorne

My ancestor in this illustrious group is Henry Polkinhorn of Breage, who was 2nd cousin once removed from Otho Polkinhorne of Gwinear......

The Arms then passed on down the eldest male line until another Mary, daughter and heiress of Otho Polkinghorne of Gwinear, (listed above) married Thomas Glynn in 1662, the Polkinghorne Arms then became incorporated into the Glynn family Arms: Argent, Three Salmon Spears.

Polkinghorne Manor, Gwinear, still exists and can be found on the present day Ordnance Survey Maps, there is also a hamlet by the name of Polkinghorne in the Parish of Gulval, north of Penzance.

Polkinghorne's can be found all over the world nowadays along with other "Cousin Jacks" and "Janes" who were forced to leave their native land mainly due to the sudden demise of the Copper and Tin mining industries in Cornwall in the mid 1800's. They are usually found in areas of mining activity in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and of course various parts of England and Wales where there is or was mining activity. My great grandad Joseph with his brothers William & Henry and their families moved to Manchester, UK, in the mid 1860's. Great Grandfather Joseph and his brothers mining Coal and the rest of the families children, when old enough, working in the Cotton and Paper Mills. Great Grandfather Joseph was also one of nine children and at present I am trying to locate the descendants of Great Grandad's siblings and their descendants, so if you think you could be related, I would be grateful if you would get in touch.
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