Great-rex History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Anglo-Saxon name Great-rex comes from the family having resided in an area that was referred to as the great ridge. Great-rex is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, or in this case a ridge. 1 Another source postulates that the name was from "Greatorick, from Gayteric, the old form of Catterick, Yorkshire, in which county the name remains common." 2 And two sources claim the name is from Great Rocks; a hamlet, Tideswell, Derbyshire. 3 4 This latter source dives into more detail: "the Derbyshire name of Greatorex is evidently derived from Great Rocks, a hamlet in the parish of Wormhill. Greatrix and Gratrix are now Lancashire forms of the name." 4 And yet another source claims the name is from Greterakes, a place name in the Domesday Book of 1086. 5 Early Origins of the Great-rex familyThe surname Great-rex was first found in Essex where Augustine Brandon and Elizabeth Greatracks, of Westham, Essex married in 1382. 6 Early History of the Great-rex familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Great-rex research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1628, 1629, 1647, 1659, 1666, 1675, 1683, 1697, 1712 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Great-rex History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Great-rex Spelling VariationsGreat-rex has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Gratrix, Greatrix, Greatrex, Great-Rex, Greatorix, Greatorex and many more. Early Notables of the Great-rex familyDistinguished members of the family include Ralph Greatorex (c.1625-1675), an English mathematical instrument maker and apprentice of London clockmaker Elias Allen, his name appears in Pepys's Diary. His date of death is uncertain as the Dictionary of National Biography claims he died as late as 1712.
Valentine Greatrakes (1629-1683), whose name... Migration of the Great-rex family to IrelandSome of the Great-rex family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Great-rex familyIn an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Great-rexs to arrive on North American shores: George, Henry and Lawrence Greatrake settled in Delaware in 1813.
|