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![Show Contents]() Akwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancestors of the bearers of the Akwood family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Sussex where the name literally means "the wood frequented by hawks." 1 Early Origins of the Akwood familyThe surname Akwood was first found in Sussex where the family name was first referenced in the year 1230 when John Hackwude held estates in that county. Over one hundred years later, John de Haukwode was listed in the Feet of Fines of 1343 and John de Hawkwod was listed in the Assize Rolls of Essex in 1351. 2 Sir John Hawkwood (c. 1320-1394) was an English mercenary or condottiere active in 14th century Italy. He was the "second son of Gilbert de Hawkwood of Hedingham Sibil, Hinckford, Essex, a tanner, was born in that place early in the fourteenth century. Gilbert de Hawkwood was a man of substance and gentle blood, the family having held land at Hedingham Sibil since the reign of John. He is also said to have been impressed for the French wars, and to have served as an archer in the army of Edward III." 3 Early History of the Akwood familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Akwood research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Akwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Akwood Spelling VariationsUntil 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 Akwood include Hackwood, Hakewood, Hawkwood, Haykwood, Hakwood, Ackwood, Akwood, Hackward and many more. Early Notables of the Akwood familyDistinguished members of the family include the Hackwood of Sussex; and Sir John Hawkwood (died 1394), an English mercenary who was active in 14th century Italy. Known by the French as "Jean Haccoude" and the Italians as "Giovanni Acuto" he served first the Pope and then various groups in Italy for...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Akwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Akwood familySearching 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 Akwood or a variant listed above: Fra Hawkwood, who arrived in Virginia in 1650; John Hogward, who arrived in Virginia in 1664; Mary Hackwood, who came to Barbados in 1678; and James Hogwood, who came to St. John, N.B. in 1783..
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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