Davenport History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Davenport

What does the name Davenport mean?

Davenport is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Davenport family lived in the township of Davenport, in the parish of Astbury in East Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Davenport family

The surname Davenport was first found in Cheshire where they were descended from Ormus de Davenport of Davenport Hall Farm 1 in the parish of Astbury in East Cheshire. He is the first recorded ancestor of the family.

"The Davenports claim precedence among the knightly families of Cheshire, - that 'seed-plot of gentry,' 'the mother and the nurse of the gentility of England,' and are traced directly to the Conquest." 2

"The manor [of Marton, Cheshire] was given to an ancestor of the Davenport family, as a dowry with the daughter of Venables, Baron of Kinderton, in the reign of Henry I." 3

Early History of the Davenport family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Davenport research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1477, 1566, 1597, 1598, 1623, 1631, 1645, 1670 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Davenport History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Davenport Spelling Variations

The 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. Davenport has been recorded under many different variations, including Davenport, Davenporte, Donarty and others.

Early Notables of the Davenport family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Davenport (1597-1670), an English Puritan clergyman from Coventry, Warwickshire, co-founder of the American colony of New Haven, eponym of Davenport College, Yale University. 4
Sir Humphrey Davenport of Davenport (1566-1645), was Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1631; and Francis Davenport, O.M.R., also known as Father Francis of Saint Clare, (1598-1680), was an English Catho...

Davenport Ranking

In the United States, the name Davenport is the 509^th most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. 5 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Davenport is ranked the 797^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,503 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Davenport family to Ireland

Some of the Davenport family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Davenport 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. Davenports were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Davenport Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Davenport, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1628 7
John Davenport who settled in New Haven, Connecticut in 1630
Richard Davenport of Salem, who settled there in 1632
Elizabeth Davenport, who arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1637 aboard the ship "Hector"
Ann Davenport, who landed in Virginia in 1637 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davenport Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Davenport, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 7
Francis Davenport, who arrived in New England in 1708 7
Geo Davenport, who landed in Virginia in 1713 7
Addington Davenport, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1747 7
Jos Davenport, who arrived in Virginia in 1755 7

Davenport Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Davenport, who arrived in America in 1803 7
Christopher Davenport, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1812 7
S Davenport, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1813 7
James Davenport, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 7
Catherine Davenport, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davenport migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Davenport Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Isaac Davenport U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 46 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York 8
Miss. Elizabeth Davenport U.E. (b. 1775), aged 8 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 31 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York 8
Miss. Ann Davenport U.E. (b. 1774), aged 9 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 30 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York 8
Mr. Samual Davenport U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 45 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York 8

Davenport migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Davenport Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Davenport, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Samuel Davenport, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
John Davenport, a carpenter, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. George Davenport, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. John Davenport who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davenport migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Davenport Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Davenport, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 13
Thomas Davenport, aged 35, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Mary Davenport, aged 35, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
John Davenport, aged 11, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
George Davenport, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Davenport 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. 14

Davenport Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Davenport, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Davenport (post 1700) +

Thomas Davenport (1802-1851), American co-inventor (with his wife Emily) of the first DC electrical motor
John Edwin Davenport (1928-2024), American politician, Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (1973-1979)
Clyde Thomas Davenport (1921-2020), American old-time fiddler and banjo player from Monticello, Kentucky
Isaac Noah Davenport (1840-1922), American Civil War union survivor of Andersonville prison and survivor of the sinking of the USS Sultana
James Houston "Peanut" Davenport (1933-2016), American Major League Baseball infielder, twice All-Star (1962, 1962) and recipient of the Gold Glove Award (1962)
Russell Wheeler Davenport (1899-1954), American publisher and writer
Miriam Davenport (1915-1999), American painter and sculptor
Marcia Davenport (1903-1996), American author and music critic
Homer Calvin Davenport (1867-1912), American political cartoonist
William D. "Willie" Davenport (1943-2002), American Olympic athlete, winner of the Gold in the 110m hurdles
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Davenport family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Jack Davenport, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, also sailed aboard the HMS Sultan 16

The Davenport Motto +

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: Fear God

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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 Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html