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Show ContentsDeacon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The family name Deacon is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon names of Britain. It was originally a name for a person who worked as a deacon, an officer in the church. The occupation appears in the Old French as diacne, in Old English as diacon or deacon, and in Old English as deakne. Alternatively, the name could have been derived "from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of David.' " [1]

Early Origins of the Deacon family

The surname Deacon was first found in Suffolk where Richard le Diakne was the first record of the family appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. A few years later, Richard le Deken(e) was listed in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247 and later in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1256. [2]

As an occupation, "Walter the Deacon was at the compilation of Domesday a tenant in chief in the counties of Gloucester and Essex." [3] [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gile Deacon, Norfolk; Richard le Dekene, Norfolk; Adam le Dekene, Somerset; and Peter le Dekne, Cambridgeshire. [1]

Up north in Scotland, the first record of the family was Walter Dekne, burgess of St. John's town of Perth, who had a safe conduct into England for two years, 1291. [5]

Early History of the Deacon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deacon research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1212, 1256, 1327, 1332, 1379, 1697, 1715 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Deacon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deacon Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Deacon include Deakin, Deacon, Deakan, Deakins, Dekne, Diakne and many more.

Early Notables of the Deacon family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Thomas Deacon (1697-1753), English physician and nonjuring bishop, residing in London in 1715, where he was a prime agent in the Jacobite rebellion[6]...

Deacon Ranking

In the United States, the name Deacon is the 9,716th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [7] However, in the United Kingdom, the name Deacon is ranked the 958th most popular surname with an estimated 7,288 people with that name. [8]

Ireland Migration of the Deacon family to Ireland

Some of the Deacon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Deacon migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Deacon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Deacon who settled in Maine in 1628
  • Alice Deacon, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635
  • Avis Deacon, aged 19, British settler who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Alice" [9]
  • Tho Deacon, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" [9]
  • Martha Deacon, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Deacon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Deacon, who landed in Maryland in 1740 [9]
  • James Deacon, aged 24, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1779 [9]
Deacon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin A Deacon, who landed in New York in 1836 [9]
  • Henry Deacon, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 [9]
Deacon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Thomas S. Deacon, (b. 1845), aged 58, Cornish blacksmith travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th March 1903 en route to Cleveland, Ohio, USA [10]
  • Mr. Sydney Deacon, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 4th June 1905 en route to Trimountain, Michigan, USA [10]

Canada Deacon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Deacon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James, Deacon Jr., who arrived in Canada in 1816
  • James, Deacon Sr., who landed in Canada in 1816

Australia Deacon migration to Australia +

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

Deacon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Deacon, British convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 [11]
  • John Deacon, English convict from Dorset, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [12]
  • Robert Deacon, English convict from Dorset, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [12]
  • Miss. Sarah Deacon, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [13]
  • George Deacon, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Deacon 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:

Deacon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • TW Deacon, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1845
  • Mr. John Deacon, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Sir William Eyre" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in April 1863 [15]
  • Mrs. Isabella Deacon, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Sir William Eyre" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in April 1863 [15]
  • Miss Agnes Deacon, Scottish settler travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Sir William Eyre" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in April 1863 [15]
  • Miss Fanny Deacon, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th February 1867 [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Deacon (post 1700) +

  • Dan Deacon (b. 1981), American composer and electronic musician
  • Richard Deacon, American actor, best known as Mel Cooley on The Dick Van Dyke Show
  • William Budd Deacon, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Burlington County, 1878-79; Member of New Jersey State Senate from Burlington County, 1880-82 [17]
  • Walter O. Deacon, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Hurricane, West Virginia, 1927-35 [17]
  • Donald Keith Deacon (1927-1996), American politician, Mayor of Farmington Hills, Michigan, 1976-77 [17]
  • George Frederick Deacon (1843-1909), English civil engineer who designed the Lake Vyrnwy scheme to supply Liverpool's water
  • Brett Deacon (b. 1982), English retired rugby union player
  • Samuel Charles "Charlie" Deacon (1869-1893), English footballer who played from 1885 to 1892 for St. Mary's
  • Roarie Milton Ryan Deacon (b. 1991), English professional footballer
  • Henry Deacon (1822-1876), English chemist and industrialist; his factory in Widnes, Lancashire produced alkali and chlorine
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Paul Morse  Deacon (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [18]
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. William Frank Deacon (1909-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [19]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Herbert Kitchener Deacon, British Petty Officer Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [20]
  • Mr. William Thomas Briton Deacon (b. 1915), English Able Bodied Seaman from Marshfield, South Glouchester, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [20]
HMS Royal Oak
  • William Joseph Deacon (1917-1939), 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]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Percy William Deacon (d. 1912), aged 20, English Second Class passenger from Fritham, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [22]
Victoria steamboat disaster
  • William S. Deacon, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

The Deacon 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: In utrumque utroque paratus
Motto Translation: Prepared for both.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. 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)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. 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)
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
  14. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque OREGON, 521 tons - 1851 voyage to South Australia. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Oregon.htm
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  18. 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
  19. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  20. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  21. 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
  22. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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