Deacon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


The family name Deacon is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon names of Britain. It was originally a name for a person who worked as a deacon, an officer in the church. The occupation appears in the Old French as diacne, in Old English as diacon or deacon, and in Old English as deakne. Alternatively, the name could have been derived "from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of David.' " 1

Early Origins of the Deacon family

The surname Deacon was first found in Suffolk where Richard le Diakne was the first record of the family appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. A few years later, Richard le Deken(e) was listed in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247 and later in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1256. 2

As an occupation, "Walter the Deacon was at the compilation of Domesday a tenant in chief in the counties of Gloucester and Essex." 3 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gile Deacon, Norfolk; Richard le Dekene, Norfolk; Adam le Dekene, Somerset; and Peter le Dekne, Cambridgeshire. 1

Up north in Scotland, the first record of the family was Walter Dekne, burgess of St. John's town of Perth, who had a safe conduct into England for two years, 1291. 5

Early History of the Deacon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Deacon research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1212, 1256, 1327, 1332, 1379, 1697, 1715 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Deacon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Deacon Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Deacon include Deakin, Deacon, Deakan, Deakins, Dekne, Diakne and many more.

Early Notables of the Deacon family

Notables of the family at this time include

Deacon Ranking

In the United States, the name Deacon is the 9,716th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Deacon is ranked the 958th most popular surname with an estimated 7,288 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Deacon family to Ireland

Some of the Deacon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Deacon migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Deacon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Deacon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Deacon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Deacon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Deacon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Deacon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Deacon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Deacon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Deacon migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Deacon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Deacon (post 1700) +


The Deacon 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: In utrumque utroque paratus
Motto Translation: Prepared for both.
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