Lakyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

Etymology of Lakyn

What does the name Lakyn mean?

The Welsh name Lakyn was comes from an Old English pet form of the popular medieval personal name Lawrence, which is in turn from the Latin personal name Laurentius.

Early Origins of the Lakyn family

The surname Lakyn was first found in Shropshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Lakyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lakyn research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1250 and 1400 are included under the topic Early Lakyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lakyn Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Lakyn has seen various spelling variations: Lacon, Laken, Lakyn, Lakin, Laking and others.

Early Notables of the Lakyn family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Sir Richard Lakyn was Sheriff of Shropshire in the 1400s

Lakyn migration to the United States +

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Lakyn:

Lakyn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Isabel Lakyn, who settled in Virginia in 1771

The Lakyn 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: Probitas verus honos
Motto Translation: Probity is true honor.