| ![Show Contents]() Stoker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Today's generation of the Stoker family bears a name that was brought to England by the wave of migration that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Stoker is a name for a person whose profession was felling trees or removing tree stumps. The name was originally derived from the Old English word stocc, meaning tree stump. Early Origins of the Stoker familyThe surname Stoker was first found in Somerset where they were conjecturally descended from Walter de Douai, a Norman noble who was a Domesday tenant of Chilcompton, a village which two mills, 220 sheep, and 70 goats. 1 "The Stockers had a mansion-house near Chilcompton church, about a mile distant from Downside College. One of them had to compound for his estate with the Rump commissioners about the year 1651. I suspect F. Augustine Stoker, O.S.B., who died in London 18th August, 1668, was his kinsman. And I think that it was one of this family who told F. William Weston, as related in his Latin Auto biography, that at the plunder of Glastonbury he secured one of the nails, twelve inches long (with its case), which had been used at Christ's crucifixion. The nail itself, the instrument of wonderful cures. From this family, I suspect, came the piece of the true cross." 2 Early History of the Stoker familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stoker research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1484, 1569 and 1592 are included under the topic Early Stoker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stoker Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Stoker has been recorded under many different variations, including Stocker, Stoker, Stockere, Stokoe and others. Early Notables of the Stoker familyAnother 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stoker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stoker RankingIn the United States, the name Stoker is the 4,590th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3  Migration of the Stoker family to Ireland
Some of the Stoker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Stoker migration to the United States | + |
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Stokers were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:
Stoker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Elizabeth Stoker, who arrived in Virginia in 1727 4
- Robert Stoker, who arrived in Virginia in 1727 4
- Michel Stoker, aged 31, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 4
Stoker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Samuel Stoker, aged 42, who landed in New York in 1837 4
- George Stoker, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
- John Stoker, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 4
- William R Stoker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1861 4
- Thomas Stoker, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 4
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Stoker migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Stoker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. Stephen Stoker U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 5
| Stoker migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Stoker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Miss Margaret Stoker, English convict who was convicted in Durham, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 14th September 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
| Stoker migration to West Indies | + |
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 7Stoker Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century- Mr. William Stoker, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 8
- Samuell Stoker with his wife, two children, and servants settled in Barbados in 1680
| Contemporary Notables of the name Stoker (post 1700) | + |
- Austin Stoker (b. 1943), American actor
- Sir Michael Stoker, Director of Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories from 1968-79
- Bram Stoker (1847-1912), Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula
- Richard Stoker (b. 1938), British composer and writer
- Frank Owen Stoker (1867-1939), Irish tennis player, Wimbledon winner
| Historic Events for the Stoker family | + |
- Mr. Joseph Stoker, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9
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: Non sibi sed toti
Motto Translation: Not for one self but for all.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth-and-henry
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
- Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
- HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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Stoker migration to the United States 
Stoker migration to Canada 
Stoker migration to Australia 
Stoker migration to West Indies 
England
Ireland
