Takley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Takley family

The surname Takley was first found in Oxfordshire at Tackley, a parish, in the union of Woodstock, hundred of Wootton. 1 The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Tachelie. 2

Literally the place name means "woodland clearing of a man called Taecca, or where young sheep are kept," derived from the Old English personal name or from the Old English "tacca" + "leah." 3

William the Conqueror granted the manor of Tackley to Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester. The family was first recorded in the area during the reign of Edward I. 4

The first listing in early rolls was Sanson Tachel, who in 1165, held a knight's fee of the old feoffment of Roger de Moubray in Yorkshire 5 and four and a half of his Lincolnshire fief 6.

John Takel held at Traneby, in the East Riding or Yorkshire 7. Beatrix, daughter of Gilbert Thakel, was the wife of William de Wentworth of Wentworth-Woodhouse (acquired by his father through an heiress in the time of Henry III.), and the mother of two sons: 1. William, ancestor of the Earls of Strafford; and 2. Richard, Bishop of London and Chancellor of England in 1338. 8

About 1272, Magister Galfrid Takel, Simon Thakel, and Ralph Thakel all occur in the same county: and Alan, Benedict, Matthew, and Robert Takel in Oxfordshire. - Rotuli Hundredorum. The latter was Marshal of Woodstock in 1280: and more than a hundred years after that, a Robert Takel was Prior of Rosedale in Yorkshire. A third Robert, Rector of Marsh-Gibbon in Cambridgeshire, died in 1479. 8

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also included: William de Takeleye, Essex; Agnes de Takele, Oxfordshire; Robert de Takkele, Oxfordshire; and Willani de Tackeleg, Essex. 9

Early History of the Takley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Takley research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1194, 1200, 1202, 1273, 1325 and 1529 are included under the topic Early Takley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Takley Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Takley were recorded, including Tackley, Takely, Takly, Tackly, Takel, Tackell and many more.

Early Notables of the Takley family

More information is included under the topic Early Takley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Takley family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Takley arrived in North America very early: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)