Duchfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Duchfield is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in or near the settlement of Dukinfield, in the parish of Stockport in Cheshire. The surname Duchfield belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Duchfield family

The surname Duchfield was first found in Cheshire at Dukinfield, a small town and today within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester. The place dates back to at least the 12th century when it was listed as Dokenfeld and literally meant "open land where ducks are found" derived from the Old English words duce + feld. 1

"This place is supposed to derive its name from the circumstance of the standard of the Danes having been captured here by the victorious Saxons; the figure of a raven or doken was impressed on the Danish flag, and the spot was named, in the Anglo-Saxon dialect, Dockenveldt, or the Field of the Raven. At the earliest period to which records extend, the township was included in the fee of Dunham-Massey: the third Hamon de Massey confirmed Dukinfield to Matthew de Bramhall, about 1190; and the family of Dukinfield appears to have held the place in fee of the Bramhalls, and to have been connected with it for a period exceeding five centuries. The widow of Sir William Dukinfield Daniel (a name assumed by the family) conveyed the estate, in marriage, to the Astleys, about 1767; and the present lord of the manor is Francis Dukinfield P. Astley, Esq." 2

Dukinfield Hall has been held by the Duckenfeld family since at least the 1600s. "Dukinfield Old Hall was originally built in the Norman era; but the gabled front and frogged pinnacles of the present edifice denote it to be a structure of the reign of Henry VIII." 2

Early History of the Duchfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Duchfield research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1619, 1642, 1653, 1670, 1689, 1729, 1742 and 1950 are included under the topic Early Duchfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Duchfield Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Duchfield are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Duchfield include: Duckenfield, Dickenfield, Dukinfield, Dukenfield, Duckinfield, Dunkinfield and many more.

Early Notables of the Duchfield family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Lieutenant Colonel Robert Duckenfield (1619-1689) from Dukinfield in Cheshire, a Parliamentarian commander during the English Civil War. He was...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Duchfield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Duchfield family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Duchfield or a variant listed above: J.P. Duckenfield who settled in N. Carolina in 1675; along with his brother Thomas; Alfred, Arthur, James, and Thomas Duckenfield all arrived in Pennsylvania in 1820..

The Duchfield 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: Ubi amor ibi fides
Motto Translation: Where there is love, there is faith.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.