Archdickend History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Archdickend reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Archdickend family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Archdickend is a name for a person who held the religious office of Arch Deacon. 1 "An eminent Cornish family in the XIV. cent. wrote themselves Archdekne. The cognate name Archidiacre occurs in France, from which country the English family would appear to have migrated, since three chevrons form the main feature of the arms of both families, as well as of another English family named Archidecknie." 2 Early Origins of the Archdickend familyThe surname Archdickend was first found in the counties of Cornwall and Devon where they settled soon after the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D. In Normandy, the family name was Archidiace, 3 which seriously questions the popular concept that the family name is derived from the office of Archdeacon. "The manor called Bodwen, [in Helland, Cornwall] was held at an early period by the family of Archdekne, under the prior of Bodmin, as connected with his large manor of Rialton. This passed from the Archdeknes to the Courtenays, in marriage with an heiress of the former family." 4 The manor of Landegy, in the parish of Kea, Cornwall "belonged at a very early period to the family of the Archdeknes, for so early as the reign of Edward II. From this family it passed by female heirs to the Courtnays and Carews." 4 "In the year 1335, a market was granted to John Archdekne, to be held at a place called Shepestall, which some have supposed to have been in this parish; and when Thomas Archdekne was summoned to parliament in the reign of Edward I. he is described as of Shepestall. It is well known that this ancient family had their residence and also considerable possessions in this parish; and a field not far from its borders still bears the name of Little Shepestall; but the name of the ancient seat seems to have been forgotten." 4 William de le Archdeacon was listed in Norfolk in early times 5 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1370 listed Johannes Archedeken et uxor. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Thomas le Arsdekene, Hertfordshire; and Adam Ercedekne, Suffolk. 1 Early History of the Archdickend familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Archdickend research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1619 and 1690 are included under the topic Early Archdickend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Archdickend Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Archdickend are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Archdickend include Archdeacon, Archdekin, Archdekyne, Arcedeckne, Archdecon, Archdicken, Ercadkne, Erchdeacon, Erchdekine, Archdeakin and many more. Early Notables of the Archdickend familyMore information is included under the topic Early Archdickend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Archdickend family to IrelandSome of the Archdickend family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Archdickend familyFaced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Archdickend, or a variant listed above: William Archdeacon who arrived in Maryland in 1741; John Archdeacon in Pennsylvania in 1772; and Dennis Archdeacon in Philadelphia in 1851; Kathryn Arch-deacon landed in America in 1704.
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