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![Show Contents]() Barkston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Barkston familyThe surname Barkston was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor in the West Riding. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Barkston, held by Ilbert de Lacy as over-lord, a Norman Baron who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Barkston familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barkston research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1607, 1611 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Barkston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Barkston Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Barkston 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 Barkston include Barkston, Brakston, Braxton, Brackston, Barckston, Braxton, Barxton, Barkstead, Barksted and many more. Early Notables of the Barkston familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Barkstead (died 1662), an English Major-General, convicted of Regicide of Charles I. "Three prisoners were immediately sent to England, and, as they had been previously outlawed, their trial turned entirely on the question of identity. Barkstead, with his companions, was executed on 19 April 1662. He showed great courage...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barkston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Barkston 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 Barkston, or a variant listed above: Wm. Barkstead, who settled in Virginia in 1701; Carter Braxton, who came to Ontario in 1871; Charles J. Braxton, who came to Texas in 1841; Christipher Braxton, who came to Mississippi in 1798.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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