Enkpyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Enkpyn is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the region of Inkpen near Hungerford in Berkshire. Enkpyn is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Enkpyn family

The surname Enkpyn was first found in West Berkshire at Inkpen, a village and civil parish that dates back to Saxon times when the village was named Ingepenne c. 935. 1 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the village's name was Hingepene 2 and was literally derived from the Old English words "ing" (meaning hill or peak) and the Celtic or Old English word "penn" (meaning hill or enclosure.) 1

The manor of Pillaton in Cornwall which in Doomsday Survey is called Pileton, belonged to the Earl of Moreton at that time. This manor, about the reign of Edward I. was in the family of Inkpen. "It was afterwards the property of John Charles, Esq. of whose heiress this manor and that of Hardenfast were purchased by Thomas Moone, Esq. about 1620." 3

Early History of the Enkpyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Enkpyn research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1217 and 1301 are included under the topic Early Enkpyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Enkpyn Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Enkpyn has been spelled many different ways, including Inkpen, Inkpin, Ingpen and others.

Early Notables of the Enkpyn family

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

Migration of the Enkpyn family to Ireland

Some of the Enkpyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Enkpyn family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Enkpyns to arrive in North America: John Inkpen, who settled in New England in 1756.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print