Show ContentsArchdeacon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Archdeacon is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. Archdeacon is a name for a person who held the religious office of Arch Deacon. [1]

"An eminent Cornish family in the XIV. cent. wrote themselves Archdekne. The cognate name Archidiacre occurs in France, from which country the English family would appear to have migrated, since three chevrons form the main feature of the arms of both families, as well as of another English family named Archidecknie." [2]

Early Origins of the Archdeacon family

The surname Archdeacon was first found in the counties of Cornwall and Devon where they settled soon after the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D. In Normandy, the family name was Archidiace, [3] which seriously questions the popular concept that the family name is derived from the office of Archdeacon.

"The manor called Bodwen, [in Helland, Cornwall] was held at an early period by the family of Archdekne, under the prior of Bodmin, as connected with his large manor of Rialton. This passed from the Archdeknes to the Courtenays, in marriage with an heiress of the former family." [4]

The manor of Landegy, in the parish of Kea, Cornwall "belonged at a very early period to the family of the Archdeknes, for so early as the reign of Edward II. From this family it passed by female heirs to the Courtnays and Carews." [4]

"In the year 1335, a market was granted to John Archdekne, to be held at a place called Shepestall, which some have supposed to have been in this parish; and when Thomas Archdekne was summoned to parliament in the reign of Edward I. he is described as of Shepestall. It is well known that this ancient family had their residence and also considerable possessions in this parish; and a field not far from its borders still bears the name of Little Shepestall; but the name of the ancient seat seems to have been forgotten." [4]

William de le Archdeacon was listed in Norfolk in early times [5] and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1370 listed Johannes Archedeken et uxor. [1]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Thomas le Arsdekene, Hertfordshire; and Adam Ercedekne, Suffolk. [1]

Early History of the Archdeacon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Archdeacon research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1619 and 1690 are included under the topic Early Archdeacon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archdeacon Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Archdeacon are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Archdeacon include Archdeacon, Archdekin, Archdekyne, Arcedeckne, Archdecon, Archdicken, Ercadkne, Erchdeacon, Erchdekine, Archdeakin and many more.

Early Notables of the Archdeacon family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Roger le Archdeacon

Ireland Migration of the Archdeacon family to Ireland

Some of the Archdeacon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Archdeacon migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Archdeacon, or a variant listed above:

Archdeacon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Kathryn Archdeacon, who landed in America in 1704
  • William Archdeacon who arrived in Maryland in 1741
  • John Archdeacon, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772
Archdeacon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Dennis Archdeacon in Philadelphia in 1851
  • Dennis Archdeacon, who settled in Philadelphia in 1858
  • Mary Archdeacon, aged 18, who arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "City of Chicago" from Liverpool & Queenstown [6]
  • F. A. Archdeacon, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Kaiser Wilhelm II" from Genoa, Italy [6]
  • Master Archdeacon, aged 9, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Kaiser Wilhelm II" from Genoa, Italy [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Archdeacon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. I. M. Archdeacon, who arrived in New York in 1907 aboard the ship "Nieuw Amsterdam" from Rotterdam, Netherlands [6]
  • Peter M. Archdeacon, aged 63, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Rotterdam" from Plymouth [6]

Australia Archdeacon migration to Australia +

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

Archdeacon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Archdeacon, aged 9, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Marion" [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Archdeacon (post 1700) +

  • Ernest Archdeacon (1863-1950), French lawyer of Irish descent who was a pioneer in aviation in France before the First World War, the first aeroplane passenger in Europe in1908
  • Maurice John Archdeacon (1897-1954), Major League Baseball center fielder


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  6. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  7. South Australian Register 1857. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marion 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marion1857.shtml


Houseofnames.com on Facebook