Gapes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Gapes family

The surname Gapes was first found in Somerset where the name was first referenced in the year 1243 when they held estates in that shire. The famous New Zealand Gapes family hailed from Saffron Walden in Essex and emigrated to New Zealand in 1859.

Early History of the Gapes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gapes research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1646, 1660, 1661 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Gapes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gapes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Gapes have been found, including Gape, Gapes, Gapp, Gaip and others.

Early Notables of the Gapes family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gapes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gapes migration to Canada +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Gapes, or a variant listed above:

Gapes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Gapes, aged 40, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Alchymist" in 1833
Grace Gapes, aged 39, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Alchymist" in 1833
George Gapes, aged 11, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Alchymist" in 1833
Elizabeth Gapes, aged 7, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Alchymist" in 1833
Agnes Gapes, aged 9, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Alchymist" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gapes migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gapes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Emily Gapes, (b. 1859), aged 8 months, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 1
Mr. James Gapes, (b. 1823), aged 36, British carman travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 1
Mrs. Jane Gapes, (b. 1824), aged 35, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 1
Miss Hannah Gapes, (b. 1838), aged 21, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 1
Miss Charlotte Gapes, (b. 1840), aged 19, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gapes (post 1700) +

Thomas Gapes (1848-1913), English-born, New Zealand politician, 20th Mayor of Christchurch (1893-1894)
James Gapes JP (1822-1899), English-born, New Zealand politician, 9th Mayor of Christchurch in 1877
Vivienne Gapes, née Martin, New Zealand two-time gold and four-tie silver medalist Paralympian skier
Michael John "Mike" Gapes (b. 1952), British Labour Co-operative politician, Member of Parliament for Ilford South (1992-)

Citations +

New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html