Nankivel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Nankivel

The Nankivel surname was taken on from a place name in the Parish of St. Mawgan, Pyclar, Cornwall. The place name is derived from the Cornish "nans," meaning "valley," and the personal name Cuvel.

Early Origins of the Nankivel family

Early History of the Nankivel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nankivel research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1495, 1499, 1602 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Nankivel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nankivel Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Nankivell, Nankevill, Nankivel, Nanskevell, Nankivel, Nankevell, Nancekievill and many more.

Early Notables of the Nankivel family

• John Nankivell of St Mawgan, who was listed as a supporter of Perkin Warbeck in 1495. Warbeck, pretending to be Richard, Duke of York, made a claim for the throne of England, and plotted to overthrow...