POLAND Family History

This is a confusing English, and sometimes Irish, surname. If English it is recorded in the spellings of Poland, Polland, Pollane, Pollin, Powland, Powlesland and if Irish generally as McPolin, Polin and Poland, although most spellings are also found in Ireland. Again for most nameholders the surname probably originates from the village of Poland, near the town of Odiham, in the county of Hampshire. If Irish it is often from the same source, but if not is from a Gaelic diminutive of the ancient name Paul, and first recorded in Ireland in the 17th century.