Show ContentsOkard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Okard was formed. The name was derived from the Old French personal names Achart and Aquart. Achard was a personal name in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1

Early Origins of the Okard family

The surname Okard was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Henry Achard, Huntingdonshire; and Richard Achard, Yorkshire were listed. Later the Yoprkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Hachet, Mergareta Hachet, and Robertus Achard. 2

Early History of the Okard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Okard research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1154, 1189, 1273, 1379, 1636, 1679, 1695, 1697 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Okard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Okard 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 Okard include Hatchard, Hachard, Atchard, Achard and others.

Early Notables of the Okard family

Distinguished members of the family include John Eachard (1636?-1697), an English divine and satirist from Suffolk, twice Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (in 1679 and 1695.) "He governed his college with the utmost care and fidelity, and to the general satisfaction of the whole university. He procured many donations...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Okard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Okard 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 Okard were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: P. Achard, who sailed to Louisiana in 1719; Michael and Joseph Achard, who came to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1796; and A. Achard, who arrived in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850..



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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