This very interesting name has both English and Irish Ancestry. One William Peutoney of Dublin being granted arms in 1599. However its true origins are French. The Original name holders being from the town of Repentany in France, and being followers of William The Conqueror, were granted the lands of Pontenai (now Poultney) in Leicesteshire. The name has developed many variant spellings including Pentony, Pantony, Pontney, Poutney, Poultney and Pulteneye. The name recordings include Randolf Penntney christened at the church of St. Lawrence Pountney, London on August 25th 1588, whilst Robert Pentney married Bregete Norrendel on December 21st 1632, at St. St. Mary Somerset, London. Brigida Pentony was christened at Lincolns Inn Field on July 17th 1763, and Lazarus Pantony on May 27th 1792, at St. Andrews, Holborn. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Pulteneye, which was dated 1334, in the "Essex Pipe Roll Register", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.