Parkers Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient name of Parkers finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for 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 Parkers family

The surname Parkers 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 Parkers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Parkers 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 Parkers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Parkers Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Parkers family name include Parker, Parkers, Parkeres, Parkere and others.

Early Notables of the Parkers 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...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Parkers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Parkers family to Ireland

Some of the Parkers 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.

Parkers migration to Canada +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Parkers surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Parkers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Robert Parkers U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 8

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
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