This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Paul'; v. Pawson.

Stephen Paul, Nottinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1521. John Pawle: Register of the University of Oxford.

1588. John Paule and Agnes Haywarde: Marriage Lic. (London).

1702. Baptised — Elizabeth d. Richard Paulson: St. James, Clerkenwell.

This surname is one of considerable antiquity in the parish of Daviot, and occurs in the parish of Fintry in 1654. It is also found in the Lothians and in Fife, where it is considered "by family tradition a Flemish name" (Sc. Ant., IV, p. 114), but is not necessarily so. Robert Paul was member of council of the burgh of Stirling in 1528 (SBR., p. 276), Patrick Paule, witness at Tuliboill, 1546 (Rollok, 6), and Janet Paule is recorded in Edinburgh in 1659 (Edinb. Marr.). Alexander Paull, mercator in Elgine, 1696 (Inquis., 8769). The Gaelic forms are Pol ( classical) and Pal (common speech), whence Poison and Macphail. The name is Latin Paui-us, from paulus, little. Pawll 1688.

'son of Paul,' which see. Magnus Paulsoun, tacksman of the Bull ('headhouse,' ON. bol, farm) of Halkisnes, 1502 (REO., p. 419). James Palsone was part proprietor of Grindlie and Arnie in 1618. "From that time there is no further record of Paulsons in Sanday. It would, therefore, seem that the Paulsons had dropped their patronymic and taken the surname of Fea, probably from the lands of Fea in the near neighbourhood of Stove, which very possibly were at one time their odal property" (REO., p. 206). Sir John Paulson was vicar of Kilmaly in diocese of Lismore, 1559 (Mackay, p. 518).

'Son of Paul' (G. Pol, borrowed from N. Pal)."The name Paul was a favourite one among the Norse, and hence its popularity in Cathanesia" (Macbain III, p. 22). The Poisons ere claimed by Clan Mackay historians as belonging to their clan, descended from Paul son of Neil Neilson, son of Donald (Mackay) who was murdered in Dingwall Castie 1370. The earliest record of the name is in the will of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, 1456, in which he bequeaths to his daughter Marion "so many ky as she ought to have of William Polsonys ky" (Bannatyne Club Miscellany, III, p. 99). A Hugh Paulson (Latin Pauli) witnessed a grant of the lands of Thorboll, 1472 (OPS., II, p. 680). Hugh Poilson, perhaps the same person, witnessed a deed or 1497 relating to Torboll, and Schir Johne Poilsone or Poylson appears as chantor of Dornoch in the same year, "chantour of Cataness" in 1500, and in 1506 was presented to the rectory of Ey in Lewis (RSS., I, 188,539, 1332). Duncan Paulsoun resigned the lands of Ovir Tulleglennis in the baronia de Culbin, 1508-9, and Donald William Poilsoun was occupier of Nether Bulbistar, 1541 (RMS., II, 3298; 111, 2450). Hew Poilsoun was reader at the church of Lairg between 1574 and 1578 (OPS., II, p. 698), and Murdo Poilson was burgess of Inverness, 1606-23 (Rec. Inv., II, p. 34,162). Some Poisons have adopted the name Macphail and others sign themselves Mackay (Book of Mackay, p. 365). Some others of the name on the estate of Balnespik in the latter half of the eighteenth century spelled their name Wilson (Grant, An old Highland farm, p. 158,176). Cosmo Innes errs in deriving the Poisons from Paul Mactire, lord of Strathcarron, Strathoykell, and Westray in the fourteenth century. The form Poleson occurs in Shetland. Poilsoun 1678, Polsone 1641, Polsoun and Polsun 1456. Poylson 1506, Polysoun 1499.

Paul’s Son: v. Paul.

(Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English) The son of Paul (small).

The son of Paul.

The son of Pol, i.e., Paul.

Little, small.

Signifies little, small. Latin, Paulus, Greek, παυλος.

The name of Paul, in the form of Paull, was represented in the 17th century in Drempton and Netherway in Broad Windsor (H.).

Several of the Somersetshire Pauls were implicated in the Monmouth rebellion of 1685, and were transported to Barbadoes; one of them was Robert Paul of Ilton (H.).