Show ContentsAkeney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Akeney is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived 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 Akeney family

The surname Akeney 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 Akeney family

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

Akeney Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Akeney has been spelled many different ways, including Akeny, Akeney, Ackney, Acknie, Acknee, Hackney, Hackeney, Hakeney, Hakenie, Akanay and many more.

Early Notables of the Akeney family

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

Migration of the Akeney family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Akeneys to arrive in North America: 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.


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