Arker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Arker reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Arker family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Arker is a name for a bowman, and derives from the French L'Archer of the same meaning.

Early Origins of the Arker family

The surname Arker was first found in Warwickshire, where "Fulbert L'Archer, the patriarch of the Lords Archer of Umberslade, in the county of Warwick, appears among the warriors at Hastings, who received recompense from the victor. His son, Robert L'Archer, obtained additions to his territorial possessions by grant from Henry I., whose tutor he had been, and still further increased his patrimony by marrying Sebit, daughter of Henry of Villiers, and thus acquiring the lands of Umberslade." 1

However, another noted source claims Hampshire was the founding place for the family. "Willelmus Arcarius" held a barony in the hundred of Sunburne, in Hampshire. 2 This family took its name from the office it held under the Dukes of Normandy before the Conquest. Its derivation is rather uncertain, but a family of L'Archer, still flourishing in Brittany, bears the same three arrows that were borne by the English Archers, differenced in tincture. The latter claim as their ancestor Fulbert l'Archer, the father of Robert, to whom the Conqueror entrusted the charge of his son, afterwards Henry I. " 3

Robert Larchier was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire and Warwickshire in 1166. Hugh le Archer was listed in the Feet of Fines of Cheshire in 1199. 4

Odo le Archer was listed in Devon during the reign of Henry III and John le Archer was listed in Yorkshire in the reign of Edward I. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1237 list Thomas le Archer in Derbyshire. 5

The L'Archer family from Tanworth in Arden in Warwickshire held Umberslade Hall outside Tamworth in England for over 600 years. Of note was John L'Archers, Larger or L'Archer (died 1349) who was an English-born cleric and judge who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Deputy Justiciar. He was nephew of Thomas L'Archer (died 1329), the English monk who held the office of English Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also born in Tanworth.

Some of the family were found to the far south in the parish of St. Ewe in Cornwall. "There was formerly a manor called Trelewick, but this has many years since been totally dismembered. The barton house was for some time the seat of John Archer, Esq. who died in 1733, to which family the estate belonged. Soon after this gentleman's death the house fell to decay, and remained for many years without an inhabitant. About twenty three years since the fee of Trelewick was sold by Addis Archer, Esq. to the late Mr. John Harris, by whom the dilapidated mansion was taken down, and a genteel farm house erected in its stead." 6

"There are two gentlemen's seats in the parish of [Lewannick, Cornwall], both of which are ancient; Trewanta Hall, the residence of William Hocken, Esq. and Treliske or Trelaske, the property and abode of Samuel Archer, Esq." 6

Early History of the Arker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arker research. Another 274 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1210, 1214, 1273, 1296, 1350, 1549, 1551, 1554, 1581, 1598, 1617, 1619, 1624, 1630, 1640, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1682, 1684, 1685, 1856, 1861 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Arker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arker Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Archer, Archar, Arsher, Arsher, Arshire, Archere and many more.

Early Notables of the Arker family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Archer (1554-1630?), an English divine, who was born at Bury St. Edmunds 12 Aug. 1554, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was elected to a fellowship; John Archer (1598-1682), an English judge from Essex; Sir Simon Archer (1581-1662), an English antiquary and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640, High Sheriff of Warwickshire; and...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Arker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arker family to Ireland

Some of the Arker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 193 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arker family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Arker or a variant listed above: Samuel Archer who settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630; just ten years after the "Mayflower." He was appointed Marshall in 1650. Henry Archer was another settler in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1639.

The Arker Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sola bona quae honesta
Motto Translation: Those things only are good which are honest.

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
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
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print