Danks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Danks was a baptismal name meaning "the son of Daniel." It was originally formed by the addition of the suffix "kin" onto the pet name Dan, to create Dankin. As was typically with this type of name, the suffix "kin" was shortened over time into "kys" and "ks." Thus, Dankin often became Dankys or Danks.
Early Origins of the Danks family
The surname Danks was first found in Gloucestershire, when Gunnild Danekin was documented during the reigns of Henry III and Edward I. Adam and Richard Dankyn were recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. 1
Early History of the Danks family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Danks research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1401, 1424, 1501, 1551, 1572 and 1674 are included under the topic Early Danks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Danks Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Dankin, Dankyn, Dankins, Dankys, Danks, Danke, Dankes, Denk, Denke and many more.
Early Notables of the Danks family
Notables of the family at this time include
- Thomas Danks, who was the rector of Hedenham, County Norfolk in 1572
Danks migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Danks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Walter Danks, who landed in Virginia in 1655 2
Danks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Isaac Danks, who landed in Ohio in 1798 2
Danks migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Danks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Joseph Danks, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
- Mr. Joseph Danks, (b. 1782), aged 37, English gunsmith who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1836 4
- Mr. Joseph Danks, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
- Joseph Danks, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on April 16, 1855, settling in Western Australia 6
Contemporary Notables of the name Danks (post 1700) +
- Alney Dale Danks Jr. (1939-2021), American attorney and the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, from 1977 to 1989
- Hart Pease Danks (1834-1903), American musician and composer, best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold
- Benoni Danks (1716-1763), American New England Ranger and politician in Nova Scotia
- Jordan Cooper Danks (b. 1986), American Major League Baseball center fielder
- John William Danks (b. 1985), American Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
- Tom Danks (1863-1908), English international footballer
- Richard "Dick" Danks (1865-1929), English footballer
- Denise Danks, English novelist, journalist and screenwriter
- Mark James Danks (b. 1984), English footballer
- Samuel Danks Waddy (1830-1902), English politician
The Danks Motto +
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: Pro fide et patria
Motto Translation: For our faith and country.
Citations +
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Western Australia, Australia in 1855 with 261 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1855