Parker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England
Ireland

The name Parker comes from one of the family having worked as a person who worked as the Parker, which was the individual who was the guardian of the park grounds. Some Parkers were employed by noblemen who held large estates that needed the grounds of the estate or castle maintained. 1

Early Origins of the Parker family

The surname Parker was first found in Somerset where Anschetil Parcher was listed as holding lands in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 One reputable source claims the name was "descended from Norman le Parcar or Forester, who held from Queen Matilda in 1083. He appears to be the same as Norman Venator of Salop 1086. From him descended Hugh Parcarius of Devon, 13th century." 3

Another equally strong source claims that name to Thomas le Parker, temp. Edward III and the extinct Baronet family Parker of Ratton traced their lineage to the time of Edward I in Sussex. 4

"The church [of Willingdon in Sussex], principally in the early English style, contains portions in the decorated and later styles, with a square tower, and some interesting monuments to the Parker family. Henry Parker, who was secretary to Cromwell, and author of various tracts on religion and politics, was born at Ratton, in the parish." 5

The name quickly became widespread throughout Britain as see by one of the first rolls, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which lists: John Parcar in Dorset; Adam le Parker in Norfolk; and Peter le Parker in Yorkshire. 1

"A family called Parker have been established for centuries in Lancashire. Browsholme Hall, near Clitheroe, was first built by Richard le Parker in 1380, and is still the family seat." 6

"The Parkers, originally of North Molton, [Devon] acquired by their marriage with the heiress of Mayhew, temp. Elizabeth, the manor of Boringdon, and thenceforward made it their chief residence, until in 1712 they purchased Saltram, once the seat and residence of Sir James Bagge, the creature of Buckingham, and the ' bottomless bagge ' of the patriot Eliot. The Parkers were raised to the peerage in 1774, as Barons Boringdon ; and in 1815 advanced to be Viscounts Boringdon and Earls of Morley. Saltram House was rebuilt by them early in the last century, and was long reported the largest mansion in the county. " 7

Early History of the Parker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parker research. Another 251 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1380, 1443, 1451, 1504, 1575, 1595, 1608, 1617, 1619, 1640, 1643, 1648, 1651, 1659, 1660, 1666, 1667, 1670, 1673, 1675, 1677, 1679, 1681, 1685, 1688, 1692, 1697, 1719, 1732, 1752, 1764 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Parker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parker Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Parker have been found, including: Parker, Parkers, Parkeres, Parkere and others.

Early Notables of the Parker family

Distinguished members of the family include

Thomas Parker, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1443 and 1451
Matthew Parker (1504-1575), English prelate, Archbishop of Canterbury
William Parker (d. 1617), an English captain, privateer who sailed with Sir Francis Drake, Mayor of Plymouth
Thomas Parker (1595-1677) Calvinist minister, founder of Newbury, Massachusetts
George Parker (c 1619-1673), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660
Samuel Parker (1640-1688), an English churchman, Archdeacon of Canterbury in 1670
Sir Philip Parker (died 1675), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1648
Alice Parker, a resident of Salem Town, Massachusetts, executed on September 22, 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials
John Parker (c.1651-c.1719), an English army officer and Jacobite conspirator
Sir Thomas Parker (ca. 1666-1732), 1st Earl of Macclesfield, English judge and politician

Parker World Ranking

In the United States, the name Parker is the 47^th most popular surname with an estimated 363,102 people with that name. 8 However, in Canada, the name Parker is ranked the 142^nd most popular surname with an estimated 23,220 people with that name. 9 And in France, the name Parker is the 4,047^th popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 10 Australia ranks Parker as 63^rd with 35,151 people. 11 New Zealand ranks Parker as 51^st with 5,292 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Parker as 51^st with 79,089 people. 13 South Africa ranks Parker as 759^th with 9,132 people. 14

Migration of the Parker family to Ireland

Some of the Parker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parker migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Parker, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Parker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. William Parker, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1616 aboard the ship "Charles" 15
Mr. Robert Parker who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 16
Nicholas Parker, his wife Ann, their daughter Mary and son Nicholas, who settled in Roxbury Massachussetts in 1633 they sailed aboard the ship "Bird"
Rev. Thomas Parker, (1595-1677), an English nonconforming clergyman and a founder of Newbury, Massachusetts who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Mary & John", cousin James Noyes 15
Mr. Nicholas Parker, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "Paul" in 1635 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Parker, who landed in Virginia in 1701 17
Hellena Parker, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 17
Hannah Parker, who landed in Virginia in 1717 17
Alexander Parker, who landed in Virginia in 1730 17
Andrew Parker, who landed in America in 1798 17

Parker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catherine Parker, who landed in New Jersey in 1811 17
Hugh Parker, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 17
Ezra Parker, who arrived in Maryland in 1811 17
James Parker, who landed in Texas in 1830 17
Isaac G Parker, who landed in Texas in 1835 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Parker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mrs. Ann Parker U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 18
Mr. Benjamin Parker U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 18
Ms. Elizabeth Parker U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 18
Mr. Ephraim Parker U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 18
Mr. John Parker U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Parker, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
John Parker, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
Mary Parker, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
Sarah Parker, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
Charlotte Parker, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parker migration to Australia +

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

Parker Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Elizabeth Parker, (b. 1764), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester Assizes for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1788 19

Parker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Lydia Parker, (b. 1765), aged 35, English silkwinder who was convicted in Dorset, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1838 20
Mr. Stephen Parker, (b. 1772), aged 31, British Convict who was convicted in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1822 21
Mr. William Parker, English convict who was convicted in Westminster, London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 22
Miss Harriet Parker, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 23
Miss Mary Parker, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 23
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parker 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:

Parker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Samuel Parker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
William Parker, aged 23, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
William Parker, aged 32, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Harriett Parker, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Thomas Parker, aged 28, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 24
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Parker migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 25

Parker Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Charles Parker, aged 18 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 17
Mr. Samuel Parker, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler traveling aboard the ship "John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 26
Mr. William Parker, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 27
Charles Parker, who arrived in Jamaica in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Parker (post 1700) +

Alice Parker (1925-2023), American composer, arranger, conductor and teacher who wrote five operas, eleven song-cycles, thirty-three cantatas, eleven works for chorus and orchestra, forty-seven choral suites, and more than forty hymns, best known for her collaboration with Robert Shaw
James D. Parker (1975-2023), American track and field athlete who specialized in the hammer throw at the 2004 Summer Olympics
James Aubrey Parker (1937-2022), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (2003-2022), Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (2000-2003)
Riddick Thurston Parker Jr. (1972-2022), American professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens (1997 to 2003)
Eugene Newman Parker (1927-2022), American solar physicist and plasma physicist, elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1967, eponym of NASA's Parker Solar Probe
Melvin Parker (b. 1944), American drummer from Kinston, North Carolina, a key member of James Brown's band
Robert Parker (1930-2020), American R&B singer and musician, best known for his 1966 hit, "Barefootin'"
Branford Parker, American director and writer, known for We the Roses (2016) and The Opera Game (2017)
Jeffrey Lee Parker (1964-2017), American professional ice hockey right winger for the Buffalo Sabres
Naomi Parker Fraley (1921-2018), American war worker and waitress from Tulsa, Oklahoma, believed to be the model for the iconic "We Can Do It!" poster in 1943 in which she was called "Rosie the Riveter"
... (Another 65 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Parker family +

Empress of Ireland

Miss Thirza Parker (1866-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 28

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Harry Weir Parker, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29
Mrs. Mae Evelyn Parker (1889-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29
Mr. Harvey Parker (1889-1917), Canadian resident from Owls Head, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29

HMS Hood

Mr. Gordon Parker (b. 1918), English Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Workington, Cumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Stanley Parker, British Leading Steward, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 31
Mr. S Parker, British Painter, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 31
Mr. Graham Parker, British Chaplain, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 31
Mr. G Parker, British Ordnance Cook 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 31

HMS Repulse

Mr. Arthur Parker, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 32
Mr. Charles George Parker, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 32

HMS Royal Oak

Ronald Thomas Parker (1916-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 33
James Parker (d. 1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 33
Albert George Parker (1918-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 33

North Sea Flood

William Parker, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
William Nassau Parker, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Titanic

Mr. Clifford Richard Parker (d. 1912), aged 28, English Second Class passenger from Guernsey, Channel Islands who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 34

SS Atlantic

George Parker, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
Wm. Parker, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

SS Caribou

Mr. George William Parker (b. 1914), British passenger who was Royal Air Force from Waskatenau, Albert was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking

St. Francis Dam

Mr. John B. Parker, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mrs. Ida Marie Parker, (nee Bloomers), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

USS Arizona

Mr. William Parker, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 35

The Parker 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: Fideli certa merces
Motto Translation: To the faithful there is reward

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
"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
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"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
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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 of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/daphne
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
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 Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
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
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html