Okeard History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Okeard is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the Old French personal names Achart and Aquart. Achard was a personal name in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 Early Origins of the Okeard familyThe surname Okeard was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Henry Achard, Huntingdonshire; and Richard Achard, Yorkshire were listed. Later the Yoprkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Hachet, Mergareta Hachet, and Robertus Achard. 2 Early History of the Okeard familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Okeard research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1154, 1189, 1273, 1379, 1636, 1679, 1695, 1697 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Okeard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Okeard Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Okeard include Hatchard, Hachard, Atchard, Achard and others. Early Notables of the Okeard familyDistinguished members of the family include John Eachard (1636?-1697), an English divine and satirist from Suffolk, twice Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (in 1679 and 1695.)
"He governed his college with the utmost care and fidelity, and to the general satisfaction of the whole university. He procured many donations... Migration of the Okeard familyA great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: P. Achard, who sailed to Louisiana in 1719; Michael and Joseph Achard, who came to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1796; and A. Achard, who arrived in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850..
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