One of the oldest cheeses in Normandy, its name originates from the village of Pont-l'Évêque in Calvados, where it is made. The recipe is said to have been developed by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. This cheese has been PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) since 1972.

It was known in the Pays d'Auge in 1230, under the name of "angelot" or "augelot". It was from the 17th century that it was called Pont-l'Evêque, because it was found on the market of the eponymous town.

The rise of cheese outside Normandy is linked to the arrival of the railway, which allowed it to reach the capital and the markets of Paris, where it was sold as a luxury cheese.