Show ContentsDacre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dacre family

The surname Dacre was first found in Cumberland at Dacre, a parish, in the union of Penrith, Leath ward. The village dates back to c. 1125 when it was first listed as Dacor and was so named from the stream called Dacre Beck, a Celtic river-name meaning "the tircking one." 1

"A monastery existed here in the time of Bede; and at this place Constantine, King of Scotland, and Eugenius, King of Cumberland, placed themselves and their dominions under the authority of Athelstan. Dacre Castle was long the residence of an ancient and noble family of that name: the main body of it, consisting principally of four towers, of excellent workmanship, remains in a very perfect state." 2

Dacre is also a township in North Yorkshire but is significantly smaller. However, the chapelry of Skelmersdale in Lancashire was also an ancient homestead of this distinguished family. "At the time of the Domesday Survey, this place was held by Uctred; and William Dacre subsequently held the manor under Thomas, Earl of Lancaster." 2 " The manor [of Fishwick, Lancashire] was in the possession of the Dacre family in the reign of Edward I." 2

Early History of the Dacre family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dacre research. Another 222 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1272, 1278, 1290, 1307, 1319, 1321, 1335, 1339, 1357, 1361, 1375, 1383, 1386, 1398, 1458, 1464, 1485, 1497, 1525, 1526, 1563, 1566, 1569, 1573, 1587, 1609, 1624, 1626, 1629, 1641, 1646, 1648, 1668 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Dacre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dacre Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dacre, Dacker, Daker, Dakers, Dacres, Dakre and others.

Early Notables of the Dacre family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Ralph Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre (c. 1290-1339)
  • William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre (1319-1361)
  • Ralph Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre (1321-1375)
  • Hugh Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre (1335-1383)
  • William Dacre, 5th Baron Dacre (1357-1398)
  • Thomas Dacre, 6th Baron Dacre (1386-1458)
  • Humphrey Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre (d. 1485)
  • Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre (c. 1464-1525) of Cumberland, who fought in the Battle of Bosworth Field (22 August, 1485) on the side of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond
  • William Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre (1497-1563)
  • Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre (c. 1526-1566)
  • Sir Thomas Dacres (1587-1668), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire (1626-1629) and (1641-1648)


United States Dacre migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dacre Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Harriet Dacre, aged 22, who settled in America from London, in 1904
  • Mary Dacre, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Monesteyevan, Ireland, in 1907
  • Sarah Dacre, aged 50, who landed in America from Leeds, England, in 1909
  • Thomas C. Dacre, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Cleator Moor, England, in 1910
  • Stanley Dacre, aged 23, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, England, in 1913
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Dacre migration to Australia +

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

Dacre Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • R Dacre, who landed in Sydney, Australia in 1831

Contemporary Notables of the name Dacre (post 1700) +

  • Dame Jane Elizabeth Dacre D.B.E., British Rheumatologist and Medical Scholar, Professor of Medial Education at University College London and Director of UCL Medical School, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Medicine and Medical Education 3
  • Susan Isabel Dacre (1844-1933), English artist from Warwickshire
  • James Dacre, British theatre director
  • Charlotte Dacre (1771-1825), English author of Gothic novels
  • Paul Michael Dacre (b. 1948), British journalist, editor of the British newspaper the Daily Mail
  • Charlotte Dacre (1782-1841), English author
  • Harry Dacre (1860-1922), English songwriter
  • Charles Christian Ralph "Ces" Dacre (1899-1975), New Zealand cricket player
  • Joseph Dacre Carlyle (1759-1804), English Orientalist, born in 1759 at Carlisle, where his father practised as a physician 4


The Dacre 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: Forte en loyalte
Motto Translation: Strong in loyalty.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  4. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 31 Oct. 2019


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