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Help[Surname] Putman and Pootman
The surname of the Mohawk Valley, New York, Putman family was originally Pootman, which meant gateman. It was Dutch and was a form of the name Poortman.
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It should be noted that in Belgium and likely the Netherlands, the name Pootman seems to mean Portman, or Gateman, while in Germany in the Ruhr Valley area, or Ruhrpott, the name Pootmann, which is also seen as Pottmann and sometimes as Potmann, Pothmann, Puettmann, and Poetmann, is connected with the German word "pfutze" meaning a puddle. The name then means "Puddle Man", or a person who lives near or works in a field that is often in the spring of the year flooded.
So, it would need to be determined whether the Mohawk Valley Pootman {Putman] family was Dutch or previously came from Germany to the Netherlands.
There is a record that says the American "Dutch" Putman family was also known as Pottmann. In Belgium and the Netherlands, the word "man" is spelled "man' while in Germany the word "man" is spelled "mann". The branch of the family that went to New Jersey used the name Pottman and Potman.
So, it would need to be determined whether the Mohawk Valley Pootman {Putman] family was Dutch or previously came from Germany to the Netherlands.
There is a record that says the American "Dutch" Putman family was also known as Pottmann. In Belgium and the Netherlands, the word "man" is spelled "man' while in Germany the word "man" is spelled "mann". The branch of the family that went to New Jersey used the name Pottman and Potman.
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In at least one reference on the internet, the name Pootman is referred to as both Portman and Polman. Also, in the Netherlands the name Pootman is sometimes used for Polman, which likely means Poolman or a person who lived near a pool. So, it appears the name Pootman is both a corruption of Portman and Poolman.
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