Show ContentsAcknay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Acknay family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in De Acquigny, from Acquigny, near Louviers, Normandy. One of the first records of the family was Le Seigneur d'Acquigny who appears in Tailleur's Chronicles of Normandy. The same source lists Herveius de Acquigny in 1058. Roger de Akeny, in the thirteenth century, held fiefs from the Honour of Peveril of London. 1 The family was listed on the Roll of Battle Abbey.

Early Origins of the Acknay family

The surname Acknay was first found in Norfolk where one of the first records of the family was Ralph de Akeny who gave some of his lands to de Petra temp. Henry III. Later Roger Dakeney held a fourth part of Northwold and Domina Johanna de Dakeneye held estates in Suffolk about the same time. From these early listings the family quickly spread throughout ancient Britain. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Akeny, Lord of Holkham, and his son Thomas, in Kent, where John de Akeny was a land owner in Wittlesford hundred. Several generations of Dakeny, from temp. Edward I. to 1390, were lords of a sixth part of the barony of Cainho, in Bedfordshire. Robert Dakeny was one of the Lords of Clophill and Kannho, also held Lathbury and Little Filgrave in Buckinghamshire. He was knight of the shire for Bedford in 1316. 1

Another source has a different understanding of the origin. "Baldwin de Akeny, grandfather of William Deken or Dakeny, Lord of Wrighton, in Norfolk, temp. Richard I., is presumed to have been the Norman knight whose name occurs in the Roll of Battle Abbey. William Dakeny's grandson, Sir Baldwin de Akeny, Knt., held a lordship in Holkham, temp. Henry III., and was Lord of Whittlesford in Cambridgeshire, A.D. 1266. He again was grandfather of Sir Roger Dakeny, Knt., who held one quarter of the town of Northwold in Norfolk, and increased his patrimony by marrying Johanna, the dau. and heir of Sir William Daubeny, by Isabella his wife, dau. and co-heir of Robert de Albini, Lord of Caynho. From this great proprietor the Manor of Dakenys in Norfolk derives its name." 2

Early History of the Acknay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Acknay research. Another 348 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1433, 1543, 1563, 1569 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Acknay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Acknay Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Acknay include Akeny, Akeney, Ackney, Acknie, Acknee, Hackney, Hackeney, Hakeney, Hakenie, Akanay and many more.

Early Notables of the Acknay family

More information is included under the topic Early Acknay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Acknay family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Acknay or a variant listed above: Silard Aknay, aged 35, who arrived at Ellis Island from Lippa, in 1905,



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
  2. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook