Show ContentsDocker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Docker

What does the name Docker mean?

The name Docker comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a trapper of small game; it literally means "cut the hare's tail," from the Old English words dokc, which meant "cut off," and hare, a word that has not changed meaning.

Early Origins of the Docker family

The surname Docker was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Docker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Docker research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Docker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Docker Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Docker has undergone many spelling variations, including Docker, Dockwra, Dockray, Dockwray, Dockrell and many more.

Early Notables of the Docker family

More information is included under the topic Early Docker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Docker family to Ireland

Some of the Docker 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.


Docker migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Docker were among those contributors:

Docker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Docker, who landed in Virginia in 1623 1
Docker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Gert Docker, who arrived in America in 1844 1
  • Harry, James, and William Docker, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1850 and 1870
  • George Docker, who arrived in Arkansas in 1893 1

Docker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Docker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Docker, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Docker migration to Australia +

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

Docker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Docker (post 1700) +

  • Daniel Docker, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State Senate 20th District, 2010 4
  • Sir Bernard Docker, British Managing Director of BSA from early in WWII, and married Lady Norah Collins in 1949
  • William Docker Browning (b. 1931), American Republican politician, U.S. District Judge for Arizona, 1984-98 5


The Docker 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: Semper eadem
Motto Translation: Always the same.


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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