Duke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The name Duke is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Duke was a name used for a person who behaved in a regal or noble manner, like a Duke. The surname Duke is derived from the various Old English words duc, duk, duke, douc, and doke, which all came from the Old French word duc. This ultimately came from the Latin word dux, which means leader, and is a derivative of the verb ducere, which means to lead. Undoubtedly, this was often a nickname, since many captains or leaders of military forces were titled landholders who would have derived their surnames from their estates. Nevertheless, it may have also been applied as an occupational name to a military leader or to someone employed in a ducal household.

Early Origins of the Duke family

The surname Duke was first found in Devon having descended from Osmond le Duc, Alexander and Robert le Duke who were listed in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae 1180-98. 1 Roger le Duke was Lord Mayor of London from 1227 to 1230.

"Duke was the name of an old influential Sussex family dating back to the reign of Henry VI.. There are also a few of the name in Dorset. Duke is also a widely - spread name amongst the gentry of the south of England, many of the families being connected and bearing the same arms. From the Dukes of Power Hayes and Otterton, Devon, sprang the Dukes of Wiltshire. " 2

The Duke baronets are now both extinct but Sir Edward Duke, 1st Baronet (c.1604-1670) was the first Duke of Benhall, Suffolk (1661) and Sir James Duke, 1st Baronet (1792-1873), was Duke of London (1849.)

Early History of the Duke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Duke research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1590, 1604, 1632, 1640, 1658, 1670, 1671, 1679, 1705, 1711 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Duke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Duke Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Duke include Duke, Dukes, Dook, Dooke, Dooks, Dookes and others.

Early Notables of the Duke family

Notables of the family at this time include

Duke Ranking

In the United States, the name Duke is the 874th most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Duke is ranked the 626th most popular surname with an estimated 73 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Duke family to Ireland

Some of the Duke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Duke migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Duke were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Duke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Duke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Duke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Duke migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Duke Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Duke Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Duke migration to Australia +

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

Duke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Duke 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:

Duke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Duke migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12
Duke Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
Duke Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Duke (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Duke +
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