Dymake History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Dymake came to England with the ancestors of the Dymake family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Dymake family lived in Gloucestershire. The name is derived from the local of Dymock, a village in this county.

Dymock was the home of the Dymock poets (1911 to 1914) that included Robert Frost, Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, and John Drinkwater. The homes of Robert Frost and Wilfrid Wilson Gibson can still be seen there today. It is thought that the family first lived at Knight's Green, an area just outside of the village of Dymock. A reference in 1848 listed the village as having 1776 inhabitants, but today there are fewer than 300. 1

Early Origins of the Dymake family

The surname Dymake was first found in Gloucestershire where the village and parish of Dymock dates back to before the Norman Conquest. According to the Domesday Book, Dymock was held by King Edward at that time and was part of the Botloe hundred. It goes on to mention that King William held it in demesne for 4 years and after that, Earl William held it followed by his son Roger. It was sizable as there was land there for 41 ploughs and a priest held another 12 acres at the time. 2

Today the village comprises over 7,000 acres. The name Dymock was possibly derived from the Celtic word "din" which meant "fort" 3

Another reference claims that name was derived from the Saxon words "dim" for dark, + "ac" for oak, in other words "dark oak." 1 Remains can still be seen of an ancient hall in Howell, Lincolnshire, the seat of the Dymoke family at one time. 1

One of the first on record was Roger Dymock (fl. 1395), an early English theologian who studied at Oxford, and there proceeded to the degree of doctor in divinity. 4

Sir John Dymoke (d. 1381), was the Kng's Champion, or Champion of England, "whose functions were confined to the performance of certain ceremonial duties at coronations, is stated to have been the son of John Dymoke, by his wife, Felicia Harevill. The family has been variously traced to the village of the name in Gloucestershire and to the Welsh borders near Herefordshire. The importance of Sir John and of his descendants was due to his marriage with Margaret (b. 1325), daughter of Thomas de Ludlow (b. 1300). " 4

Early History of the Dymake family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dymake research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1381, 1428, 1469, 1471, 1500, 1531, 1546, 1566 and 1580 are included under the topic Early Dymake History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dymake 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 Dymoke, Dymock, Dimock, Dimoke and others.

Early Notables of the Dymake family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Dymoke (died 1381), held the manor of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire; Margaret Dymoke (ca.1500-?), of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire, lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII of England; Sir Edward Dymoke, of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire (d. 1566), Hereditary King's Champion; Robert Dymoke, Dymock or Dymocke, of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire (1531-1580), Queen's Champion of England; and Sir...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dymake Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dymake 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 Dymake or a variant listed above: Thomas Dimmock who settled in Massachusetts in 1630; Martin Dimock settled in Virginia in 1637; William Dymocke arrived with his wife and servants in Barbados in 1679.

The Dymake 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: Pro Rege et lege Dimico
Motto Translation: Fight for King and Law.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print