Tankard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Tankard reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Tankard family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Tankard is based on the ancient Norman given name Tancred. The Tanksley variant is indeed rare. However, this name traces its origin to Roger Tankerlayman who was listed in Yorkshire in 1387. 1
Tankersley is a parish, in the union of Wortley, wapentake of Staincross, in the West Riding of Yorkshire 2 and dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Tancresleia. 3 Literally the place name means "woodland clearing of a man called Thancred," from the Old English personal name + "leah." 4
Early Origins of the Tankard family
The surname Tankard was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Boroughbridge in that shire. They were descended from Tancred, son of the Good Marqis, who governed the principality of Antioch as Guardian of the Emperor Bohemond II. Tancred, whose barony was in Normandy in 912 A.D. was also the sire of the celebrated Tankervilles. Whixley in the West Riding of Yorkshire was home to one branch of the family.
"The living [of Whixley] is a perpetual curacy, valued in the king's books at £7. 17. 1.; net income, £68; patrons and impropriators, the Governors of the Tancred charities. Christopher Tancred, Esq., whose family were long seated at the Hall, at his death in 1754, left his house to be converted into an hospital for twelve decayed gentlemen, and endowed it with estates which, in 1815, were let for £2480 per annum." 2
Much father to the south in Cornwall, the Tencreek family was found. This variant is rare today but at one time, they held many manors and estates. By example, at one time the manor of Ellenglaze, in St. Cuthbert belonged to the family of Tencreek. 5
Early History of the Tankard family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tankard research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1187, 1594, 1652, 1663, 1665, 1680, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1703, 1744, 1754 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Tankard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tankard Spelling Variations
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Tankard has been recorded under many different variations, including Tancred, Tancard, Tancert, Tancrette, Tankard and many more.
Early Notables of the Tankard family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- Sir Thomas Tancred, 1st Baronet (d. 1663), descendant of Richard Tankard, who owned lands at Boroughbridge in Yorkshire; Sir William Tancred, 2nd Baronet (d. 1703); Sir Thomas Tancred, 3rd Baronet (16...
Migration of the Tankard family to Ireland
Some of the Tankard 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.
Tankard migration to the United States +
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Tankards were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:
Tankard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- William Tankard, (Tanker) who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607
- Reba Tankard, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 6
Tankard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Walter Tankard, who arrived in Virginia in 1716
- William Tankard, who settled in Maryland in 1774
Tankard migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Tankard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Alexander Tankard, aged 21, a painter, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Marion" 7
Tankard 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:
Tankard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Miss Martha Jane Tankard, (b. 1858), aged infant, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 8
- Mr. Henry Tankard, (b. 1825), aged 33, English wheelwright and house carpenter from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 8
- Mrs. Sarah Tankard, (b. 1825), aged 33, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 8
- Miss Agnes Tankard, (b. 1847), aged 11, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 8
- Mr. Frederick Tankard, (b. 1849), aged 9, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Tankard (post 1700) +
- Bill Tankard, American politician, Representative from Tennessee 5th District, 1974 9
Citations +
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The MARION 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Marion.htm
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html