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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.

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So, it would need to be determined whether the Mohawk Valley Pootman {Putman] family was Dutch or previously came from Germany to the Netherlands.

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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.