DUCKWORTH STARTED AS SAXONS FROM GERMANY:

SAXONS, a Germanic people that originally inhabited northern Germany. They are first mentioned in history by Ptolemy, in whose time they occupied a large region between the Elbe, Trave and Eider rivers. By the 3rd century A.D. they had organized themselves into a confederation which occupied northwestern Germany. Subsequently they formed an alliance with the Franks. They invaded Roman territory in the 3rd and 4th centuries, and about the same time made settlements on the coasts of Gaul and Britain. By the 6th century they and the neighboring Angles has conquered a large region of England. Their principal settlements in England were in Sussex, or South Saxon, and Essex, or East Saxon.

THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM BY JOHN AND RETHA DUCKWORTH AND GAVE IT TO ME.

THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE ORIGINS OF THE SURNAME "DUCKWORTH"

The Saxon Chronicle, compiled by monks in the 10th Century, now reposes in the British Musem. It is a History of the Saxon Settlement in England. History researchers have examined reproductions of such manuscripts as the Domesday Book, (1086), the Ragman Rolls, (1291-1296), the Curia Regis Rolls, The Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, Parish Registers, Baptismals, Tax Records. They found the first record of the name DUCKWORTH in Cambridgeshire where they had been seated from early times.

Throughout the Centuries your name DUCKWORTH, occured in many Records, Manuscripts and Documents, but not always with your exact spelling. From time to time the Surname was spelled DUCKWORTH, DYKEWARD, DUCKWARD, DUCKWORT, DUCKWART, DICKWORTH, DICKWARD, DICKWORD, DICKWORT, and these variations in spelling frequently occured, even between Father and Son. Scribes and Church Officials, frequently spelled the names "Phonetically". As a result the same person would be recorded differently on Birth, Baptismal, Marriage and Death Certicates.

The Saxon race gave birth to many English surnames not the least of which was the surname DUCKWORTH. The Saxons, invited into England by the ancient Britons of the 4th Century, were fair skinned people, their home was in the Rhine Valley in Germany. They were led by two brothers, General/Commanders Hengist and Horsa. The Saxons settled in the County of Kent, in Southern England. During the next four hundred years they forced the Ancient Britons back into Wales and Cornwall in the West, and Cumberland to the North. The Angles occupied the Eastern Coast, the South Folk in Suffolk, North Folk in Norfolk. Under Saxon rule England prospered under a series of High Kings, the last of which was Harold.

In 1066, the Norman invasion from France occurred and their victory at the Battle of Hastins. In 1070, Duke William took, an Army of 40,000 North and wasted the Northern Counties, forcing many rebellious Norman Nobles and Saxons to flee over the border into Scotland. The Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under hostile Norman rule, and many also moved Northward. Nevertheless, this notable English family name, DUCKWORTH, emerged as an influential name in the county of Cambridge.

The Surname DUCKWORTH comes from the occupation "Dykeward" who was a man appointed on the East coast to watch the embankments. In pre-Henry VIII times the name was spelled DYKEWARD and over the years changed to the contemporary name DUCKWORTH. From the Eastern counties of England, the name traveled to the Southwest Counties to Topsam in Devonshire and Somerset. It also travelled to the Northern County of Lancashire where in 1310 Henry DUCKWORTH held the estates of Osbaldtwistle and DUCKWORTH, in the parish of Whalley.

By 1379 Henricus DUCKWORTH had inherited theFamily Estates continuing a tradation of a long line of DUCKWORTHS in this Northern community. In the South the Baronet of Topsam had established Estates and Manors in Devonshire. In Barwen in Somerset, another branch acquired Estates. In nearby Hamshire, the DUCKWORTHS were included in a census of large landowners in the middle ages. Some time later the commercial centre at that time, the city of Manchester. Those DUCKWORTHS who stayed in England continued to flourish, especially in the South. Notable amongst the family at this time was DUCKWORTH of Cambridgeshire.

During the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries England was ravaged by Plaques, Famine and Religious conflict. Protestantism, the newly found political fervour of Cromwellianism and Democratic Grovernment, and the remnants of the Roman Church rejected all non believers. The changing rule caused Burnings, Hangings and Banishments of all Sects and Creeds. Many families were freely "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland, or to the "Colonies". Some were rewarded with Grants of Land, others were Banished. The families who migrated to Ireland became known as the "Adventures for Land" in Ireland. Protestant settlers "undertook" to keep their faith, being Granted Lands previously owned by the Catholic Irish. There is no record of this distinguished family migrating to Ireland, but that does not preclude the possibility of individual migration.

The New World offered better opportunities and some migrated voluntarily. Some left Ireland disillusioned with promises unfulfilled, but many left directly from their home territories. Some also moved to the European Continent.

The Earliest DUCKWORTH was imported into the province of New Jersey, John DUCKWORTH, under a four year endenturement as a "Yeoman", December 1, 1684. Other members of the family name DUCKWORTH also sailed aboard the huge Armada of three masted ships known as the "White Sails" which sailed the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships such as the Hector, the Dove and the Rambler were pestilence ridden, sometimes 30% to 40% off the passenger list never reached their destination.

Others by the surname DUCKWORTH also settled in New Orleans in 1823; J. DUCKWORTH settled in New York in 1823; H. DUCKWORTH settled in San Francisco in 1852. From the port of entry settlers made their way West, joining the wagon trains to the prairies or to the West Coast. During the War of Independence, many Loyalists made their way North to Canada about 1790, and be came known as the "United Empire Loyalists". Contemporary Notables of the surname, DUCKWORTH, included many distinguished contributors, John Clifford DUCKWORTH an English Scientist; and Major Sir Richard DUCKWORTH, a decendant of the Hampshire DUCKWORTHS.

During the course of research we also determined the many "Coats of Arms" Granted to different branches of the Family Name.

THE MOST ANCIENT GRANT OF A COAT OF ARMS AND CREST FOUND WAS:

COAT OF ARMS: On a Silver background, a Black Cross with a Gold Cross surmounted, and at the top Two Dragon's Heads, surrounded by Four Arrowheads.

CREST: A Dragon's Head surrounded by Four Arrowheads.