Echard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Echard family
The surname Echard was first found in Lincolnshire where the Latin entry Simon filius Echardi was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1219. A few years later, Adam Ecard was listed the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 for Norfolk. 1 The name denotes "descendant of Agihard (sword edge, brave)." 2 3
"The surname lasted for many centuries in Norfolk, and probably still exists there. " 4
William Echard was rector of Cley, Norfolk in 1515 and Thomas Echard was bailiff of Yarmouth, Norfolk. 5
Early History of the Echard family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Echard research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1670, 1678, 1707, 1720 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Echard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Echard Spelling Variations
Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Echard include Eckhard, Echard, Eckert, Eckett and others.
Early Notables of the Echard family
Distinguished members of the family include
- Laurence Echard (c. 1670-1730) son of the Rev...
- Thomas Echard or Eachard of Barsham, Suffolk...
Echard Ranking
In France, the name Echard is the 3,736th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 6
Echard migration to the United States +
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Echard or a variant listed above:
Echard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Conrad Echard, who arrived in Maryland in 1743 7
- Henrick Echard, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1763 7
Echard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- George Echard, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 7
- Albert Echard, aged 23, who arrived in America, in 1892
Echard Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Karl Echard, aged 29, who arrived in America from Germany, Lalubach, in 1909
- Ernest Echard, aged 25, who arrived in America from Vatan, France, in 1912
- Salome Echard, aged 63, who arrived in America, in 1923
Contemporary Notables of the name Echard (post 1700) +
- Jacob H. Echard, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Fayette County Democratic Party, 1937; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940 8
- Capitaine Raoul Cesar Robert Pierre Echard (1883-1922), French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories
- Major-General Eugne-Raphal Echard (1880-1961), French General Officer Commanding Forces at the Sarre (1940) 9
Citations +
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 4) Eugne-Raphal Echard. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Echard/Eug%C3%A8ne-Rapha%C3%ABl/France.html