Argyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Argyle is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Dutch surname Van Arkel. The name Van Arkel may spring from the Anglo-Saxon form of Hercules, which is Ercol. A less likely root of the name is the parish of Ercoll Magna, or High Ercoll in Shropshire.

Early Origins of the Argyle family

The surname Argyle was first found in Norfolk, where the Saxon name Arnketel was found in 1019. 1 Archetel, Archel and Archil are all found in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2

Later in Northumberland, Archil de Corebr was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1159 and in 1256, Richard Arkill was listed in the Assize Rolls. The Hundredorum Rolls for Huntingdonshire include Roger Arketyl and in Yorkshire, the first entry for the family was as a forename: Arkell de Breddal in 1219. Later, William Harkill, Arkel was recorded in 1316 and 1331. John Arcle was a Freeman of York in 1455. 1

In Berwickshire, Scotland, this northern branch of the family name descended from Anketell, or Arnketill. 3

Early History of the Argyle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Argyle research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1500, 1533, 1572, 1588, 1609, 1610, 1621 and 1626 are included under the topic Early Argyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Argyle 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 Argyle family name include Arkell, Arkle, Arkill, Arcle, Argal, Argall, Arnkell, Artell, Artill, Arctall, Arktale, Arktell, Arktull, Arkgale and many more.

Early Notables of the Argyle family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Argall (c.1533-1588) of East Sutton, Kent; and his son, Sir Samuel Argall (c. 1572-1626), an English adventurer, Naval officer and Deputy-Governor of Virginia. He was "descended from an old Kentish family who afterwards settled at Walthamstow in Essex. His first appearance in history is among the early adventurers to Virginia, where we find him in July 1609 in charge of a small barque lying at anchor off Jamestown, where he was sent to trade on behalf of a Mr, Cornells, and to fish for sturgeon. His next task, after his return home...
Another 120 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Argyle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Argyle 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 Argyle family to immigrate North America:

Argyle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Argyle, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1863 4
James S. Argyle, aged 38, originally from Glasgow, arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Teutonic" from Liverpool & Queenstown 5

Argyle Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William Argyle, aged 36, originally from England Bloxwich, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 5
Bertha Argyle, aged 38, originally from England Bloxwich, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 5
Howard Argyle, aged 5, originally from England Bloxwich, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 5
Rose Emily Argyle, aged 45, originally from Leicester, England, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Orduna" from Liverpool, England 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Argyle (post 1700) +

Michael Argyle (1925-2002), English psychologist at the University of Oxford
Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle KBE (1867-1940), Australian politician, 32nd Premier of Victoria (1932-1935)
James Morton Michael Victor Argyle MC, QC (1915-1999), British jurist at the Central Criminal Court of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1988
Argyle Shelton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1956 6

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html