Argent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Argent reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Argent family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Argent family lived in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the south of England, where they held lands since the early Middle Ages. The family were "from the town and castle of Argenton, Berry, held in 1080 be Geoffroi, Sire d'Argenton, whose descendants continued there for twelve generations. David d'Argenton (perhaps his brother) held lands de capite in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. 1 He is styled David de Argentomago or Argentomo; but the name gradually lapsed to Argentein or Argentine. His manor or Wymondley in Cambridgeshire was held by grand serjeanty, 'to serve the King on his coronation day with a silver cup'; and the English Argentines consequently substituted three covered cups to the torteauxes that had been borne by their ancestors in France." 2

Early Origins of the Argent family

The surname Argent was first found in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the south of England. "The descendants of this Norman chieftain, David de Argentine, became feudal barons of great personal distinction. Reginald de Argentine, who appears to have been fifth in descent from the companion in arms of the Conqueror, succeeded all his father Giles de Argentine's vast estates, including the manor of Great Wymondeley, in Cambridgeshire. Of the same ancestry was Reginald de Argentine, who, in the 21 Henry III being a knight templar, was standard bearer of the Christian army in a great battle against the Turks, near Antioch, wherein he was slain." 3

Other early records include Geoffrey Argent was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1180. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Richard de Arengtein in Hertfordshire and Reginald de Argente in Essex. Reginald de Argentein was listed in the Feet of Fines in Norfolk in 1281. 4

"A branch of the Argentines was seated in Yorkshire, where William, the son of Robert, held one knight's fee of Percy early in the reign of Henry I. Walter de Argentoun was the first husband of Aaliza de Percy; and their son Roger left three co-heiresses; Agnes, Asmota, and Elizabeth." 2

Early History of the Argent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Argent research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1313, 1507, 1568, 1625 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Argent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Argent Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Argent family name include Argent, Argentine, Argenton, Argente and others.

Early Notables of the Argent family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Argentine (died 1507), an English physician who attended Edward V of England and later Arthur, Prince of Wales and was Provost of King's College, Cambridge; John Argent, who was a "Doctor of Phys...
Richard Argentine alias Sexten (d. 1568), was an English physician and divine who "went to Ipswich 'in a serving-man's coat,' and afterwards was successively usher and master of the grammar school in...

Argent migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Argent family to immigrate North America:

Argent Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Argent, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1672
William Argent, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1672 5
Sarah Argent, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 5

Argent Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Argent, who settled in North Carolina in 1736
Ann Argent, who settled in Virginia in 1767
Adam Argent, who settled in Maryland in 1772

Argent migration to Australia +

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

Argent Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Jeffery Argent, British Convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. John Argent who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Thomas Argent who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Argent, English convict who was convicted in Chelmsford, Essex, England for 10 years transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8

Argent 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:

Argent Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Harriet Argent, (b. 1809), aged 49, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9
Mr. Jessie Argent, (b. 1809), aged 49, British labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9
Miss Harriet Argent, (b. 1831), aged 27, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Argent (post 1700) +

Reed Argent, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Dakota, 1960 10
Rod Argent (b. 1945), English keyboardist/songwriter, member of the "Zombies"
William J Argent, Canadian Educator and Entrepreneur of Toronto
Samuel Argent Bardsley M.D., (1764-1851), English physician from Kelvedon, Essex, "he very model of an hospital physician"

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, 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)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html