| ![Show Contents]() Laken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of LakenWhat does the name Laken mean? The Welsh name Laken was comes from an Old English pet form of the popular medieval personal name Lawrence, which is in turn from the Latin personal name Laurentius. Early Origins of the Laken familyThe surname Laken was first found in Shropshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Laken familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laken research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1400 and 1475 are included under the topic Early Laken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Laken Spelling VariationsWelsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Laken has occasionally been spelled Lacon, Laken, Lakyn, Lakin, Laking and others. Early Notables of the Laken family- William Laken (died 1475), was an English serjeant-at-law and judge...
- Sir William was the son of Richard Laken of Willey in Shropshire...
- An effigial memorial brass to Sir William Laken can be found at Bray Church in Berkshire...
- Laken's progeny maintained their familial estate until the early 17th century when it was sold by family members who emigrated to colonial New York...
| Laken migration to the United States | + |
The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Laken:
Laken Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Bgt Laken, aged 17, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Big Richan Walron" in 1847 1
- Friedrich Laken, aged 27, German settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Louvre" in 1848 1
- Mgt Laken, aged 41, German settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Glen Loyon" in 1850 1
- F. Laken, aged 20, German settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Leondine" in 1851 1
- Ludwig Laken, aged 25, German settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Baltimore" in 1864 1
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Laken Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Torolf Laken, aged 2 years and 8 months, Norwegian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cedric" in 1907 1
- Marie Laken, aged 29, Norwegian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cedric" in 1907 1
- Lars Laken, aged 34, Norwegian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cedric" in 1907 1
- Rolf Laken, aged 3, Norwegian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cedric" in 1907 1
- Lorentz Laken, aged 5, Norwegian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cedric" in 1907 1
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Laken migration to Australia | + |
Laken Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century- Mrs. E. M. Laken, British settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Hobsons Bay" in 1930 2
- Mr. W. S. J. Laken, British settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Hobsons Bay" in 1930 2
- Mr. Henry George Laken, British settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Balranald" in 1931 2
- Mrs. Amy Laken, British settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Balranald" in 1931 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Laken (post 1700) | + |
- Steven J. Laken, American oncologist at The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, Maryland
- Sam Laken, American actor, known for Little White Snowflake (2020), Faded Colors 2 and Jill! (2021)
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: Probitas verus honos
Motto Translation: Probity is true honor.
- Ellis Island Passenger Search (Retrieved 24th October 2022).https://heritage.statueofliberty.org
- National Archives of Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022).https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
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