Show ContentsDevenporte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Devenporte was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Devenporte family lived in the township of Davenport, in the parish of Astbury in East Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Devenporte family

The surname Devenporte was first found in Cheshire where they were descended from Ormus de Davenport of Davenport Hall Farm 1 in the parish of Astbury in East Cheshire. He is the first recorded ancestor of the family.

"The Davenports claim precedence among the knightly families of Cheshire, - that 'seed-plot of gentry,' 'the mother and the nurse of the gentility of England,' and are traced directly to the Conquest." 2

"The manor [of Marton, Cheshire] was given to an ancestor of the Davenport family, as a dowry with the daughter of Venables, Baron of Kinderton, in the reign of Henry I." 3

Early History of the Devenporte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Devenporte research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1477, 1566, 1597, 1598, 1623, 1631, 1645, 1670 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Devenporte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Devenporte Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Devenporte have been found, including Davenport, Davenporte, Donarty and others.

Early Notables of the Devenporte family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Davenport (1597-1670), an English Puritan clergyman from Coventry, Warwickshire, co-founder of the American colony of New Haven, eponym of Davenport College, Yale University. 4 Sir Humphrey Davenport of Davenport (1566-1645), was Chief...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Devenporte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Devenporte family to Ireland

Some of the Devenporte family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Devenporte family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Devenporte were among those contributors: John Davenport who settled in New Haven, Conn. in 1630; he was first minister there, and an ex Mayor of Coventry, England. Descended from him was William Bales Davenport of Brooklyn. Richard Davenport of Salem, who settled there in 1632. Elizabeth Davenport settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1637.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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