Drake Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Drake Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Drake

The Drake family history was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Meaning 'the drake', this is a surname of nickname origin describing a duck or goose. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland , Scotland , and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Seman Drake who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. A Ricardus Drake and a Johannes Drac were both recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire, England , in the year 1379. Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596), was the renowned sea admiral and politician. In Ireland most families of the name are of Cromwellian origin settling at Drakestown in County Wexford in the seventeenth century. Earlier bearers of the name settled in the thirteenth century and were among the leading families in County Meath.