Dekne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain were the first to use the name of Dekne. The name had a practical origin since it came from when its initial bearer worked as a deacon, an officer in the church. The occupation appears in the Old French as diacne, in Old English as diacon or deacon, and in Old English as deakne. Alternatively, the name could have been derived "from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of David.' " [1]

Early Origins of the Dekne family

The surname Dekne was first found in Suffolk where Richard le Diakne was the first record of the family appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. A few years later, Richard le Deken(e) was listed in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247 and later in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1256. [2]

As an occupation, "Walter the Deacon was at the compilation of Domesday a tenant in chief in the counties of Gloucester and Essex." [3] [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gile Deacon, Norfolk; Richard le Dekene, Norfolk; Adam le Dekene, Somerset; and Peter le Dekne, Cambridgeshire. [1]

Up north in Scotland, the first record of the family was Walter Dekne, burgess of St. John's town of Perth, who had a safe conduct into England for two years, 1291. [5]

Early History of the Dekne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dekne research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1212, 1256, 1327, 1327, 1332, 1379, 1697, 1753 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Dekne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dekne Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Dekne include Deakin, Deacon, Deakan, Deakins, Dekne, Diakne and many more.

Early Notables of the Dekne family (pre 1700)

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dekne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dekne family to Ireland

Some of the Dekne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dekne family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dekne or a variant listed above: John Deacon who settled in Maine in 1628; and Martha Deacon who settled in Virginia in 1637; Alice Deacon settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; Avis Deacon settled in Virginia in 1635.

The Dekne 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: In utrumque utroque paratus
Motto Translation: Prepared for both.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)