First found in Devonshire, where the King family held a seat from very early times.

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 powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the King surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were: Samuel King, who landed at Plymouth in 1620; Daniel King, who came to Lynn, Massachusetts in 1630; Allin and Alice King, who settled in Virginia in 1635.

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