Contents [hide]

Park History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Park History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Among the all the peoples of ancient Scotland, the first to use the name Park were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for someone who lived someone who lived near a park. The surname comes from the Old English word, parc. "Richard, William, Sylvester, John, Robert, Philip de Parco, [were listed in] Normandy 1180-95." 1

Early Origins of the Park family

The surname Park was first found in Cumberland, where they held a family seat from early times. One of the first records of the name was when Rober de Parco witnessed a charter by Earl David (c.1202-07) and later witnessed another charter by Walter Olifard (c. 1210.) 2

Further to the south in England, early listings in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include John del Pare in Suffolk, 1273 and later, Roger atte Parke was listed in the Writs of Parliament of 1301. 3

Early History of the Park family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Park research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1500, 1669, 1695, 1697, 1706, 1710 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Park History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Park Spelling Variations

The variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Park has appeared as Park, Parke, Parks, Parkes and others.

Early Notables of the Park family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Daniel Parke (1669-1710), who sat on the colonial Virginia governor's Council from 1695 until 1697, and was later the British Governor of the Leeward Islands from (1706-1710)

Park World Ranking

In the United States, the name Park is the 461^st most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Park is ranked the 238^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,871 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Park is the 189^th popular surname with an estimated 217 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Park as 426^th with 8,787 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Park as 333^rd with 1,892 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Park as 535^th with 12,217 people. 9

Migration of the Park family to Ireland

Some of the Park family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Park migration to the United States +

As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:

Park Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Park, who landed in New England in 1642 10
Sarah Park and her husband who settled in Virginia in 1655
Sarah Park, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 10
Jacob Park, who landed in Massachusetts in 1657 10
Roger Park, who settled in west New Jersey in 1664
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Park Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Isaac Park, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 10
Alexander Park, who arrived in New England in 1728-1729 10
Leck Park, aged 15, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 10
William Park, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1756 10
Colonel Joseph Park who commanded the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1777

Park Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Park, who landed in America in 1805 10
Maxwell Park, who landed in America in 1805 10
Hugh Park, who landed in South Carolina in 1807-1809 10
David Park, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 10
Andrew Park, aged 27, who landed in Tennessee in 1812 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Park migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Park Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Cyrenius Park Sr., U.E., (Cyrenus, Parke, Parks) who settled in Canada c. 1784 11
Sgt. James Park U.E., (Parke, Parks) who settled in Canada c. 1784 brother to Cyrenius E. Park, he served in James Rogers' King's Rangers 11
Cpl. Robert Park U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 11
Cpl. Cyrenius Escerynos Park U.E., (Cyrenus, Parke, Parks) (b. 1754) born in Litchfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1786 he served in James Rogers' King's Rangers, married with 20 children, he died in 1828 11

Park Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joseph Park, aged 56, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Mary Park, aged 56, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
John Park, aged 3, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Robert Park, aged 1, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
William Park, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Daniel O'Connell" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Park migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Park Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Park, British Convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
James Park, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. James Park, (b. 1792), aged 41, Scottish mason who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for life for forgery, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1852 14
Robert Park, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 15
Robina Park, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Superb" in 1839 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Park 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:

Park Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Park, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cuba" in 1840
Gaven Park, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
Grace Park, aged 22, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
Mr. Gavin Park, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 17
Mrs. Jane Park née Stobo, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848, she married Mr. Gavin Park on board so entered as Miss Jane Stobe on the passenger list 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Park (post 1700) +

Kelly Coffield Park (b. 1962), American actress and comedian, best known for being an original cast member of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color
James Park (1892-1970), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Browns from 1915 to 1917
Barbara Lynne Park (1947-2013), née Tidswell, American author of children's books who won seven Children's Choice Awards, and four Parents' Choice Awards
William Hallock Park (1863-1939), American bacteriologist
David Park (1911-1960), American painter
Rosemary Park (b. 1907), American educator
Robert E Park (1864-1944), American sociologist
Carolyn Park, American Republican politician, Member of Texas State House of Representatives 92nd District; Elected 1992; Elected unopposed 1994 18
C. Earl Park, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Hebron; Elected 1918 18
Bill Park, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1960 18
... (Another 66 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Park family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Raymond Park (b. 1912), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Darlington, County Durham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19

HMS Repulse

Mr. Frank Park, British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 20

HMS Royal Oak

Albert Alfred Park (1903-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 21

Citations +

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)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SUPERB 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Superb.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html