Sennocks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Sennocks is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in an area that was defined by seven oak trees. Sennocks is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape or area were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Sennocks were named due to their close proximity to the seven oakes.

Early Origins of the Sennocks family

The surname Sennocks was first found in Kent where they held a family seat at Seven-oaks, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Codsheath.

"This place, which in the Textus Roffensis is written Seovan Acca, is supposed to have derived its name from seven large oaks that stood upon the eminence on which the town is built. The free grammar school was founded and endowed in 1432, by Sir William Sevenoake, (1378?-1433?), usually written Sennocke, who, being deserted by his parents, was brought up by some charitable persons, and apprenticed to a grocer in London, from which station he rose to be lord mayor of that city, and its representative in parliament, leaving a portion of his wealth to found this school and an hospital for decayed elderly tradespeople. " 1

The variant Sinnock was "a corruption of Sevenoaks. " 2

Early History of the Sennocks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sennocks research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1641, 1648, 1666, 1677, 1719, 1740 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Sennocks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sennocks Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Sennocks has been spelled many different ways, including Snook, Snooks, Snukes, Sevenoak, Sevenoaks, Sevenoke, Sevenokes, Sinnox, Sinnocks, Sennocke, Sennox, Sevenocke, Sevenockes, Snooke, Snouk, Snouks, Sinnicks, Shinnicks, Shinnocks, Chennix and many more.

Early Notables of the Sennocks family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sennocks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sennocks family to Ireland

Some of the Sennocks family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sennocks family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Sennockss to arrive in North America: George Snouks who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his servants; James Snooke settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630; David Snook, his wife and son Joe settled in Georgia in 1733.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.