Show ContentsHawke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Hawke comes from the Old English personal name Hafoc, which means hawk. But, the surname also evolved from a nickname, for someone with a Hawk-like, or "wild" disposition. [1] [2] [3]

It may also be an occupational surname given to a "hawker" or someone who held land in exchange for providing hawks to a lord. [4]

Lastly, the surname Hawke may be a local surname given to someone who lived in a nook or corner; in this case, the surname is derived from the Old English word halke, which means nook or corner.

On the more romantic side, one reference claims the name derives from the "bird: allusive to keenness of disposition." [2]

Early Origins of the Hawke family

The surname Hawke was first found in Hampshire where Hauok was found in 1066 at Winton. Roger Hauech was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset in 1176 and later, Robert Hauk was found in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1269. Walter le Hauek was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. [4]

This same source has another interesting entry: "Osbertus filius Hauoc c1115 [who was found as an Old English Byname in Oxfordshire] is probably to be identified with Osbern Hauoc (ibid.). His father bore the OE name of Hafoc 'hawk'." [4]

In 1130 the Pipe Rolls list Ralph Hauoc who owed the exchequer two 'Girfals', gerfalcons or hawks. Other early record from the same source include: William del Halk who was found in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1188; Adam de Halk in the Assize Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1260; and William atte Halk and Alan Hauke in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing for the name, that of Jocelin de Hawke, but no county was provided. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379 list: Thomas Hauke; Thomas Hauke, cottier; Adam Hawke; and Johannes Hawke. [3]

Early History of the Hawke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hawke research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1577, 1601, 1703, 1705, 1718, 1719, 1720, 1722, 1725, 1727, 1747, 1752, 1759 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Hawke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hawke Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hawke has appeared include Hawk, Hawke, Hawkes, Hauk, Hauke and others.

Early Notables of the Hawke family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Edward Hawke (1705-1781), British admiral, 1st Baron Hawke of Towton, county Yorkshire...
  • He was "born in London in 1705, was only son of Edward Hawke, barrister, of Lincoln's Inn...
  • In 1718 his father died, and Hawke, left the ward of his uncle, Martin Bladen, entered the navy on 20 Feb...

Hawke Ranking

In the United States, the name Hawke is the 17,319th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5] However, in New Zealand, the name Hawke is ranked the 763rd most popular surname with an estimated 958 people with that name. [6]

Ireland Migration of the Hawke family to Ireland

Some of the Hawke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hawke migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hawke arrived in North America very early:

Hawke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mathew and Margaret Hawke, who arrived in Boston in 1630 and later moved to Salem
  • John Hawke, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1630 [7]
  • Mr. Hawke, British settler who sailed from Isle of Wright arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet [8]
  • Adam Hawke, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1637 [7]
  • Matthew Hawke, who arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1638 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hawke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard and William Hawke, who settled in New England in 1774
Hawke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hawke, (b. 1809), aged 23, Cornish mason departing from Plymouth aboard the ship “Andromeda” arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 [9]
  • Robert Hawke, who landed in New York in 1844 [7]
  • P Hawke, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [7]
  • Mr. William Hawke, (b. 1855), aged 32, Cornish mason departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1887 [9]
  • Mrs. Annie Hawke, (b. 1865), aged 22, Cornish settler departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1887 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hawke Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Joseph J. Hawke, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish clay miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th April 1900 en route to Ironwood, Michigan, USA [10]
  • Mr. George Hawke, (b. 1874), aged 27, Cornish labourer from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th September 1901 en route to Butte, Montana, USA [10]
  • Mr. George Hawke, (b. 1883), aged 20, Cornish labourer from Roche, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 6th April 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [10]
  • Mr. George Hawke, (b. 1883), aged 20, English miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th May 1903 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA [10]
  • Mr. Thomas H. Hawke, (b. 1869), aged 34, Cornish miner from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th July 1903 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Hawke migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hawke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Hawke, English convict from Sussex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [11]
  • Mr. Jonathan Hawke, (b. 1811), aged 24 born in Lanteglos-by-Camelford, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 7th April 1835, sentenced for 7 years for stealing wheat, transported aboard the ship "Bardaster" in 1835 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [12]
  • Mr. Jonathan Hawke, (b. 1812), aged 24, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 7th April 1835, sentenced for 7 years for stealing 16 gallons of wheat and a bag, transported aboard the ship "Bardaster" on 7th September 1835 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [13]
  • Mr. Jonathan Hawke, Cornish convict who was convicted in Cornwall, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bardaster" on 7th September 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [14]
  • Miss Mary Hawke, (b. 1815), aged 22, Cornish dressmaker, from St. Columb, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "City of Edinburgh" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 31st August 1837 [15]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hawke migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hawke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Hawke, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 [16]
  • William Cocking Hawke, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 [16]
  • Elizabeth Cocking Hawke, aged 15, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 [16]
  • John Hawke, aged 4, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 [16]
  • Mr. Joseph Hawke, (b. 1807), aged 33, Cornish shoemaker born in Launceston travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 [17]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hawke (post 1700) +

  • John D. Hawke Jr. (1933-2022), American lawyer who served as the United States Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance from 1995 to 1998, and was the United States Comptroller of the Currency from 1998 to 2004
  • Simon Hawke (b. 1951), born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, an American author of science fiction and fantasy novels
  • Ethan Green Hawke (b. 1970), American actor, writer and film director
  • Mark Hawke, American politician, Mayor of Gardner, Massachusetts, 2011 [18]
  • George S. Hawke, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Ohio State Attorney General, 1928 [18]
  • Charles Clifford Hawke (1885-1961), American politician, Mayor of Winfield, Kansas, 1934, 1937 [18]
  • Warren Hawke (1970-1988), former English footballer who played from 1988 to 2005, nicknamed "The Legend"
  • Lord Martin Bladen Hawke (1860-1938), English cricketer and administrator, 7th Baron Hawke of Towton, county Yorkshire
  • Allan Douglas Hawke AC (1948-2022), Australian senior public servant and diplomat, Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (1994–1996); Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services (1996–1999); and Secretary of the Department of Defence (1999–2002), High Commissioner to New Zealand (2003–2005), Chancellor of the Australian National University (2006–2008)
  • Joseph Parata Hohepa Hawke MNZM (1940-2022), New Zealand politician and Maori land rights activist, Member of Parliament for the Labour Party from 1996 to 2002
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Frederick Desmond Hawke, British Leading Writer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [19]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. James Morton Hawke, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [20]


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bardaster
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  20. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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