| ![Show Contents]() Sevenoaks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of SevenoaksWhat does the name Sevenoaks mean? The name Sevenoaks first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in an area that was defined by seven oak trees. Sevenoaks 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 Sevenoaks were named due to their close proximity to the seven oakes. Early Origins of the Sevenoaks familyThe surname Sevenoaks 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 Sevenoaks familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sevenoaks 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 Sevenoaks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sevenoaks Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Sevenoaks has appeared include 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 Sevenoaks familyAnother 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sevenoaks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Sevenoaks family to IrelandSome of the Sevenoaks 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.
| Sevenoaks migration to the United States | + |
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Sevenoaks arrived in North America very early:
Sevenoaks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- E. B. Sevenoaks, aged 56, who arrived in America from Lpool, in 1892
Sevenoaks Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Charles F. Sevenoaks, aged 16, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1910
- 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.
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