Show ContentsHaukeworthay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Haukeworthay is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in one of two similarly-named places. The parish of Hawksworth is located eight miles from Newark in Nottinghamshire. The township of Hawkswith is in the parish of Arncliffe in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Haukeworthay 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 Haukeworthay family

The surname Haukeworthay was first found in Yorkshire at Hawksworth, which "comprises by computation 2000 acres, chiefly the property of F. Hawkesworth Fawkes, Esq., who is Lord of the Manor." 1

The parish dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Hafecesweorthe c. 1030. 2 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the parish was known as Hauocesorde. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes de Haukesworth, wright; Willelmus de Haukesworth, wright; and Anabilla de Hewkesworth, vidua. 4 In each case, the occupation of the entry appeared after the surname.

Early History of the Haukeworthay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haukeworthay research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1715, 1744, 1746, 1749, 1761 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Haukeworthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haukeworthay Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Haukeworthay has been recorded under many different variations, including Hawkesworth, Hawksworth, Hawkeworth and others.

Early Notables of the Haukeworthay family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Walter Hawkesworth (d. 1606), an English dramatist, the second son of Walter Hawkesworth of Hawkesworth, Yorkshire, by his wife Isabel, daughter and coheiress of Thomas Colthurst of Edisforth in the same county. 5 John Hawkesworth (c.1715-1773), was an English writer. He was commissioned by the Admiralty to edit Captain James Cook's papers relative to his first voyage. He was of humble origin. In his youth he was 'a hired clerk to one Harwood, an attorney in Grocers' Alley...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Haukeworthay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Haukeworthay family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Haukeworthay or a variant listed above: John Hawksworth settled in Barbados in 1680; along with William, and his servants; Charles and Thomas Hawksworth arrived in Philadelphia in 1860; Thomas Hawkesworth settled in Boston in 1635.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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