Alkingtown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Alkingtown

What does the name Alkingtown mean?

Alkingtown is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Alkingtown family lived in Lincolnshire, at the Manor of Elkington, near Louth.

Early Origins of the Alkingtown family

The surname Alkingtown was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Elkington, and were conjecturally descended from William de Percy who held his lands from Ivo Tailbois, a tenant in chief recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. 1 At this time the village of Elkington (Alchinton) consisted of one church, one chapel, a mill and a mill site. Since that time the village has become two hamlets, North Elkington and South Elkington which both survive today.

In early rolls the "k" was often dropped as in William de Elinton who was listed in Huntingdonshire in 1206 and John de Ettington who listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1274 for Lincolnshire. 2

Early History of the Alkingtown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alkingtown research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1600 is included under the topic Early Alkingtown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alkingtown Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Alkingtown have been found, including Elkinton, Alkington, Elchington and others.

Early Notables of the Alkingtown family

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

Migration of the Alkingtown family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Alkingtown were among those contributors: William Elkinton, who settled in Virginia in 1637; Thomas Elkington, a bonded passenger who arrived in America in 1736; George Elkington, who was on record in New Jersey in 1738.

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)