Lineker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Lineker family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Cheshire. Linacre was an English topographic name for someone who lived near a field where flax was grown for the manufacture of linen cloth. It derives from the Old English word lin, meaning flax, and the word aecer, meaning cultivated field. Individual cases of the surname may be derived directly from this source, or second-hand from the towns of Linacre in Lancashire and Cambridge, both of which get their names from this source.

Early Origins of the Lineker family

The surname Lineker was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Linacra in 1086. 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, the family name is conjecturally descended from Godwin de Linacra, a Norman Baron, as noted in 1086. However, it is likely that soon after, they gave their name to Linacre across the River Mersey from Meols, now a suburb of Liverpool and in the parish of Walton on the Hill.

Early History of the Lineker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lineker research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1460, 1500, 1518, 1524 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Lineker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lineker Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Lineker were recorded, including Linacre, Linaker, Leneker, Linneker, Liniker, Linnecar, Linnecor, Linegar, Linnegar, Lineker, Lynaker, Lynacre, Lynneker, Lenniker and many more.

Early Notables of the Lineker family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Linacre (c1460-1524) humanist and physician who was born in Canterbury. Eramus and Sir Thomas More were taught Greek by him and about 1500...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lineker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lineker family to Ireland

Some of the Lineker 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.

Lineker migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Lineker arrived in North America very early:

Lineker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alma E. Lineker, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Nottingham, in 1904
Nellie Lineker, aged 11, who immigrated to America from Nottingham, in 1904
Harry Lineker, aged 41, who landed in America from Nottingham, in 1905
Sidney Geo. Hy. Lineker, aged 4, who landed in America from London, England, in 1910
Alice M. L. Lineker, aged 6, who landed in America from London, England, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lineker (post 1700) +

Gary Winston Lineker OBE (b. 1960), former English footballer
Matthew Steven "Matt" Lineker (b. 1985), English first class cricketer
John Lineker (b. 1990), Brazilian mixed martial artist
Danielle Maria Lineker (b. 1979), Welsh model, television personality, and actress

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)