| ![Show Contents]() Oaks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Anglo-Saxon name Oaks comes from the family having resided near a notable oak tree or near a group of oaks. The surname Oaks is derived from the Old English word ac, which means oak. The surname Oaks belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. Early Origins of the Oaks familyThe surname Oaks was first found in Somerset where Oake is a village and civil parish that dates back to before the Norman Copnquest when it was listed as Acon in 897. The place was listed as Acha in the Domesday Book 1 and literally means "place at the oak trees" from the Old Englisk word "ac" 2 Early History of the Oaks familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oaks research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1631, 1640, 1644, 1645, 1662, 1675, 1680, 1681 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Oaks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Oaks Spelling VariationsOaks has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Oak, Oake, Oakes, Oke, Okes and others. Early Notables of the Oaks familyNotables of the family at this time include John Okey (1606-1662), an English soldier, Member of Parliament, one of the regicides of King Charles I; Nicholas Okes (died 1645), an English printer in London, best remembered for printing works of English Renaissance drama including works by William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, John Webster, Thomas Middleton, Thomas...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oaks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Oaks RankingIn the United States, the name Oaks is the 3,854th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3
 Oaks migration to the United States | + |
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Oakss to arrive on North American shores:
Oaks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Oaks, who settled in Bristol, Rhode Island in 1820
- John Oaks, who settled in South Carolina in 1822
| Oaks migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Oaks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. John Oaks, (b. 1809), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died aboard the ship in 1828 4
- John Oaks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1847 5
| Oaks migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Oaks Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Miss Catherine Oaks, (b. 1839), aged 28, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Oaks (post 1700) | + |
- Robert C. Oaks (b. 1936), retired U.S. Air Force general
- Robert Oaks, member of the New York State Assembly
- Jenny Oaks (b. 1975), American violinist
- Nathaniel T. Oaks (b. 1946), American politician
- Dallin Oaks (b. 1932), American Lawyer
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: Quercus robur salus patria
Motto Translation: The strength of the oak is the safety of our country.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MARINER 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Mariner.htm
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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Oaks migration to the United States 
Oaks migration to Australia 
Oaks migration to New Zealand 
