Charpenter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Charpenter is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a carpenter derived from the Old French word carpentier. 1

The name was quite popular in Normandy as seen in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae which listed Robert, Gaufrid, Ansketel, Richard, William, Bernard Carpentarius, of Normandy, 1180-95. This Latin form of the name continued into England where Reiner, Adam, Roger, William Carpentarius, of England were listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1189. In fact the Domesday Book of 1086 included Durand Carpentarius, a tenant in capite, Norfolk, and Rabel and Roger Carpentarius at the same time. The latter gave lands to Stoke-Clare Priory, 1090. William Carpentarius was father of Henry and Manasser Biset, Barons t. Henry II. 2

Early Origins of the Charpenter family

The surname Charpenter was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which listed Ricardus Carpentarius, Cambridgeshire; and Hugh le Charpenter, Wiltshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes Carpenter, wryght; and Willelmus Wryght, carpenter. 3

Moving ahead two centuries, researchers found John Carpenter (1370?-1441?), Town Clerk of London, son of Richard Carpenter, a citizen of London. "On 20 April 1417 he was chosen town clerk or common clerk of the city, after having held an inferior post in the town clerk's office for some years previously. " 4

John Carpenter (d. 1476), Bishop of Worcester was born probably at Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire. 4

Early History of the Charpenter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charpenter research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1121, 1429, 1516, 1570, 1575, 1582, 1588, 1589, 1591, 1621, 1627, 1628, 1649, 1657, 1667, 1671, 1673, 1683, 1714 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Charpenter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Charpenter Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Charpenter include Carpenter, Carpentar, Carpenters, Carpentier and many more.

Early Notables of the Charpenter family

Distinguished members of the family include Alexander Carpenter, Latinized as Fabricius (fl. 1429), author of the 'Destructorium Vitiorum,' a treatise which enjoyed a considerable popularity in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, was six times printed before 1516, and was finally reprinted (at Venice) as late as 1582. 4 John Carpenter (d. 1621), was a divine, born in Cornwall, it is believed at Launceston, and entered as a batler at Exeter College about 1570. 4 Richard Carpenter (1575-1627), was a divine, born in Cornwall in 1575. Nathaniel Carpenter (1589-1628?), was an author and philosopher, son of John Carpenter (d. 1591), rector of Northleigh, Devonshire...
Another 128 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Charpenter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Charpenter family to Ireland

Some of the Charpenter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Charpenter family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Charpenter were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Philip Carpenter was a fisherman at Cape Elizabeth, Ambrose Carpenter was a merchant in Hampton, and John Carpenter was living in the town of Saco during the 17th century.

The Charpenter 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: Per acuta belli
Motto Translation: Through the asperities of war.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print