Barksworthay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Barksworthay arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Barksworthay family lived in the town of Barkwith, in the county of Lincolnshire.

Early Origins of the Barksworthay family

The surname Barksworthay was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Barksworthay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barksworthay research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1600 and 1601 are included under the topic Early Barksworthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barksworthay Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Barksworth, Backwith, Backworth, Barkworth, Barkwith, Barkworse and many more.

Early Notables of the Barksworthay family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Mark Barkworth or Lambert (d. 1601), a Benedictine monk, native of Lincolnshire who converted to the Catholic faith at the age of twenty-two. "After being admitted to holy orders he was...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barksworthay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Barksworthay family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Barksworthay name or one of its variants: John Barkeworth who settled in Virginia in 1654.

The Barksworthay Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Esto quod esse videris
Motto Translation: Be what you seem to be.