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![Show Contents]() Oky History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Oky is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a notable oak tree or near a group of oaks. The surname Oky is derived from the Old English word ac, which means oak. The surname Oky belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. Early Origins of the Oky familyThe surname Oky was first found in Somerset where Oake is a village and civil parish that dates back to before the Norman Copnquest when it was listed as Acon in 897. The place was listed as Acha in the Domesday Book 1 and literally means "place at the oak trees" from the Old Englisk word "ac" 2 Early History of the Oky familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oky research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1631, 1640, 1644, 1645, 1662, 1675, 1680, 1681 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Oky History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Oky Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Oky are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Oky include: Oak, Oake, Oakes, Oke, Okes and others. Early Notables of the Oky familyNotables of the family at this time include John Okey (1606-1662), an English soldier, Member of Parliament, one of the regicides of King Charles I; Nicholas Okes (died 1645), an English printer in London, best remembered for printing works of English Renaissance drama including works by William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, John Webster, Thomas Middleton, Thomas...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oky Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Oky familyMany English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Oky or a variant listed above: John Oaks settled in South Carolina in 1822; John Oaks settled in Bristol, Rhode Island in 1820; C. Oak settled in San Francisco in 1851; Jan Oake settled in New York in 1687.
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: Quercus robur salus patria
Motto Translation: The strength of the oak is the safety of our country.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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