Elkan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The origins of the name Elkan are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the Old English personal name Hafoc, which continued to be in use until the 13th century. The surname Elkan was originally derived from the form Havec and the addition of the diminutive suffix -in, which forms Havek-in. The name Elkan has also been popularly regarded as a pet form of the personal name Henry.

Early Origins of the Elkan family

The surname Elkan was first found in Kent at Hawkinge or Hackynge, a parish in the union of Elham, hundred of Folkestone which dates back to at least 1204 when it was listed as Hauekinge and literally meant "place frequented by hawks" or "place of a man called Hafoc", derived from the Old English personal name "hafac" + ing. 1

The present town and civil parish is almost 1 mile (1.3km) east of the original village and is best known as the home of RAF Hawkinge, the closest operational airfield to France and was used extensively during the Battle of Britain in World War II. "Part of the lands and tithes [of East Wickham, Kent] were given by the famous admiral, Sir John Hawkins, in the reign of Elizabeth, to the hospital for distressed mariners founded by him at Chatham, to which they still belong." 2

The family is from " the manor of Hawkinge, Kent, held by Walter Hawkin, 1326 (Parliamentary Writs). The family had previously borne the name of Flegg, for William de Flegg, 13th cent., held a fief in Hawking (Testa de Neville). The family had been seated at Flegg, Norfolk, t. Henry II. " 3

"The Hawkinses of The Gaer, co. Monmouth, and those of Cantlowes, co. Middlesex, claim a local origin from the parish of Hawking, near Folkestone, in Kent, of which Osbert de Hawking was possessor temp. Henry II. The family removed to Nash Court in the parish of Boughtonunder-Bleane in the same county, and there remained until the year 1800. " 4

We must now move to the south of England to Devon and explore "William Hawkins, the first prominent member of the greatest family of merchant seamen and heroes England has known. For his ' skill in sea causes ' this William Hawkins the elder (c. 1532-1595) was much esteemed by Henry VIII., and he was the first Englishman who sailed a ship into the Southern Seas. He had two worthy sons. The first, another William Hawkins, was the most influential resident of Elizabethan Plymouth a merchant and a sailor, the holder of a commission under the Prince of Conde, and, like the rest of his kinsfolk, quite as ready to fight as to trade. His son, a third William, was the founder of the East India Company's first trading-house at Surat, and an ambassador to the Great Mogul at Agra. The most famous of the family was the second son of Henry VIII.'s favourite captain the renowned Sir John Hawkins ; the first Englishman to take a ship into the Bay of Mexico ; the early friend of his relative, the redoubtable Sir Francis Drake." 5

Early History of the Elkan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elkan research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1490, 1514, 1532, 1534, 1553, 1554, 1562, 1571, 1575, 1588, 1589, 1595, 1611, 1622, 1628, 1635, 1640, 1646, 1659, 1662, 1681, 1719, 1729 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Elkan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elkan Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Elkan has been spelled many different ways, including Hawkins, Hawkin, Haykins, Haykin and others.

Early Notables of the Elkan family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir John Hawkins or Hawkyns (1532-1595), English admiral, second son of William Hawkyns (d. 1553), leader of the Sea Dogs, knighted after he commanded the "Victory" in the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) 6 His only son, Sir Richard Hawkins or Hawkyns (1562?-1622), was a British Naval Commander and was brought up almost from infancy among ships and seamen, whether at Plymouth or Deptford. 6 William Hawkins of Hawkyns (d. 1554?), was a sea-captain and merchant, son of John Hawkyns of Tavistock (d. before 1490.) 6 William Hawkins or Hawkyns (d. 1589), was a sea-captain and merchant...
Another 168 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elkan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Elkan family to Ireland

Some of the Elkan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Elkan family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Elkans to arrive in North America: Thomas Hawkins, who settled in New England in 1630; Job Hawkins, who settled in Boston in 1630; Richard Hawkins, who settled in New England in 1635; Robert and Mary Hawkins, who came to the America aboard the Elizabeth and Ann in 1635, and settled in Charlestown.

Contemporary Notables of the name Elkan (post 1700) +

Elkan Rex Makin (1925-2017), English solicitor and philanthropist, noted for his involvement with the Beatles' early career and subsequently high-profile cases such as the Hillsborough and Heysel Stadium disasters
Elkan R Blout (1919-2006), American Professor of biochemistry at Harvard University, led the team that developed Polaroid instant color film, and who joined the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1969

The Elkan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Toujours pret
Motto Translation: Always ready.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print