Show ContentsAkanay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Akanay name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in De Acquigny, from Acquigny, near Louviers, Normandy. One of the first records of the family was Le Seigneur d'Acquigny who appears in Tailleur's Chronicles of Normandy. The same source lists Herveius de Acquigny in 1058. Roger de Akeny, in the thirteenth century, held fiefs from the Honour of Peveril of London. 1 The family was listed on the Roll of Battle Abbey.

Early Origins of the Akanay family

The surname Akanay was first found in Norfolk where one of the first records of the family was Ralph de Akeny who gave some of his lands to de Petra temp. Henry III. Later Roger Dakeney held a fourth part of Northwold and Domina Johanna de Dakeneye held estates in Suffolk about the same time. From these early listings the family quickly spread throughout ancient Britain. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Akeny, Lord of Holkham, and his son Thomas, in Kent, where John de Akeny was a land owner in Wittlesford hundred. Several generations of Dakeny, from temp. Edward I. to 1390, were lords of a sixth part of the barony of Cainho, in Bedfordshire. Robert Dakeny was one of the Lords of Clophill and Kannho, also held Lathbury and Little Filgrave in Buckinghamshire. He was knight of the shire for Bedford in 1316. 1

Another source has a different understanding of the origin. "Baldwin de Akeny, grandfather of William Deken or Dakeny, Lord of Wrighton, in Norfolk, temp. Richard I., is presumed to have been the Norman knight whose name occurs in the Roll of Battle Abbey. William Dakeny's grandson, Sir Baldwin de Akeny, Knt., held a lordship in Holkham, temp. Henry III., and was Lord of Whittlesford in Cambridgeshire, A.D. 1266. He again was grandfather of Sir Roger Dakeny, Knt., who held one quarter of the town of Northwold in Norfolk, and increased his patrimony by marrying Johanna, the dau. and heir of Sir William Daubeny, by Isabella his wife, dau. and co-heir of Robert de Albini, Lord of Caynho. From this great proprietor the Manor of Dakenys in Norfolk derives its name." 2

Early History of the Akanay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Akanay research. Another 348 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1433, 1543, 1563, 1569 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Akanay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Akanay Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Akanay were recorded, including Akeny, Akeney, Ackney, Acknie, Acknee, Hackney, Hackeney, Hakeney, Hakenie, Akanay and many more.

Early Notables of the Akanay family

More information is included under the topic Early Akanay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Akanay family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Akanay family emigrate to North America: Silard Aknay, aged 35, who arrived at Ellis Island from Lippa, in 1905,



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
  2. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.


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