Barkwith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Barkwith reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Barkwith family lived in the town of Barkwith, in the county of Lincolnshire.

Early Origins of the Barkwith family

The surname Barkwith was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Barkwith family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barkwith research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1600 and 1601 are included under the topic Early Barkwith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barkwith Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Barkwith include Barksworth, Backwith, Backworth, Barkworth, Barkwith, Barkworse and many more.

Early Notables of the Barkwith family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Mark Barkworth or Lambert (d. 1601), a Benedictine monk, native of Lincolnshire who converted to the Catholic faith at the age of twenty-two. "After being admitted to holy orders he was...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barkwith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barkwith migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Barkwiths to arrive on North American shores:

Barkwith Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Barkwith, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 1

Barkwith 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:

Barkwith Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Barkwith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Mary Barkwith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Annie Barkwith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Elizabeth Barkwith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Sarah Barkwith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Barkwith 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: Esto quod esse videris
Motto Translation: Be what you seem to be.

Citations +

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)