Raikes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The origins of the Welsh name Raikes go back to the ancient Celtic culture that existed in the hills and Moors of Wales. The forbears that initially held the name Raikes once lived near a pass or narrow valley. The surname Raikes is derived from the Old English word hraca, which means throat. The surname Raikes 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. However, the surname Raikes may be derived from residence at The Rake in Sussex, at Raikes Farm in Surrey, or at Raikes in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In this case, the surname Raikes belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Raikes family

The surname Raikes was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Raikes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raikes research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1690 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Raikes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raikes Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Raikes have included Raikes, Raike, Raik, Rakes, Rake and others.

Early Notables of the Raikes family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Robert Raikes the Elder (1690-1757), a British printer and newspaper proprietor from the East Riding of Yorkshire

Raikes 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:

Raikes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

G. Raikes, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "St. Leonards" in 1877

Contemporary Notables of the name Raikes (post 1700) +

Charles Raikes (1812-1885), English writer on India, son of Job Matthew Raikes
Thomas Raikes (1777-1848), English dandy and diarist, eldest son of Thomas Raikes, elder brother of Robert Raikes, the promoter of Sunday schools
Henry Cecil Raikes (1838-1891), English politician, born at the Deanery, Chester
Henry Raikes (1782-1854), English divine, born in London, second son of Thomas Raikes, a merchant, who was governor of the bank of England in 1797
Vicar Henry Raikes (1782-1854), English Chancellor of the diocese of Chester
Robert Raikes the Younger (1736-1811), English philanthropist and Anglican layman
General Robert Napier Raikes (1813-1909), British General of the Remount responsible for the provision of horses throughout the Indian army
Major Cyril Probyn Napier Raikes (1875-1963), British Military Cross recipient from Swanmore, Hampshire
Sir Henry Victor Alpin MacKinnon Raikes (1901-1986), British Conservative politician
Lucinda Raikes (b. 1975), British actor

The Raikes 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: Honestum praeferre utili
Motto Translation: To prefer the honest to the profitable.