Parker Family Association: 2012 Parker Family Reunion

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

2012 Parker Family Reunion - A Great Success

This was to date the largest Parker family reunion for the descendants of Joshua Parker 1778 and Sarah Rogers 1876. Attending were the descendants from their fifth child Joshua Parker 1809 line and Caleb Parker 1812 line, and included Joseph Faulkner Parker 1841 line. That discovery was made through DNA studies done by Gregory Parker his grandson.

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What's in a name? Parker

Although the etymology of the surname ‘Parker’ stems from the Old French term for ‘parquer’, ‘parchier’, meaning ‘keeper of the park’, it is generally considered to be of English origin. The name most likely arrived in England with the Norman Conquest, though it is quite possible that it was used prior to 1066. It is thought that the French word actually derives from a Germanic original, meaning ‘a park, enclosure, or thinly wooded land kept for beasts of the chase’.

During medieval times, the nickname ‘parker’ was given to English gamekeepers, thus continuing the association with outdoor public green areas. Several surnames are related to ‘Parker’ including Park, Parke, Parks and Parkes. These are, strictly speaking, place names adapted for people who ‘dwelled in parks’ but it is equally fair to say that they evolved as occupational names of those who worked within parks. Parkman, Parkhill, Parkhurst, Parkhouse, Parkerhouse and Duparc are other variations of the surname, the latter meaning ‘of the park’.

The first reference to the surname Parker is in 1086, when the Domesday Book records where one Anschetel Parcher is listed, living in Somerset. Indeed, the majority of Parkers seem to have originated from the south of England. It is now estimated that there are 72,000 Parkers in the United Kingdom – a significant rise from the 57,000 recorded on the 1881 census. It is currently the 49th most popular surname in the UK and – like Lady Penelope’s butler – there are 83 people that have it as their first name as well.

The distinguished surname Parker is one of the most notable Anglo/Saxon surnames, and its historical trail has emerged from the mists of time to become an influential surname of the middle ages and of the present day.

In an in-depth research of such ancient manuscripts as the Doomsday Book compiled in 1086 A.D. by Duke William of Normandy, the Ragman rolls (1291-1296) collected by King Edward 1st of England, the Curia Regis Rolls, The Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, parish registers, baptisms, tax records and other ancient documents, researchers found the first record of the name Parker in Derbyshire where they had been seated form very ancient times.

Although the name Parker occurred in many manuscripts, from time to time the surname was also spelt Parker, Parkers, Parkeres, Parkere and these changes in spelling frequently occurred even between father and son.

The family name Parker is one of the most notable of the ancient Anglo/Saxon race. This founding race of England, a fair skinned people led by the Saxon General/Commanders Hengist and Horsa, settled in Kent from about the year 400 A.D. The Angles, on the other hand occupied the eastern coast of England.

The Anglo/Saxon five-century domination of English society was an uncertain time and the nation divided into five separate kingdoms, a high king being elected as supreme ruler.

By 1066, King Harold came to the throne of England which was enjoying reasonable peace and prosperity. However, the Norman invasion from France and their victory at the Battle of Hastings, found many of the vanquished Saxon land owners forfeiting their land to duke William and his invading nobles. They became oppressed under Norman rule and some moved northward to the midlands, Lancashire and Yorkshire, even into Scotland.

The family name Parker emerged as a notable English family name in the county of Debyshire. One of the first records of the noble name was about 1380 during the reign of King Richard II when Thomas Parker of Bulwell is recorded on the border of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. This name had been seated there since ancient times. the senior line descending from Thomas Parker, however, became extinct about the sixteenth century. The junior lines produced the Earls of Macclesfield and the Baronies of Morley and Monteagle, but these latter two baronies have been in abeyance since 1685. Largely from the midland of England the name flourished in the counties of Derby, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Nottingham. By the 14th century an important branch evolved in Devonshire at a place called Whiteway. They settled at North Moulton in Devon. They also moved northward to Scotland and William Parker of Kilmon, Perthsire, a parson, rendered homage in 1296, to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland. The name continued to flourish in both England and Scotland for the next two or three centuries, particularly in Scotland where the family name acquired lands in Dundee and became associated with the Ogilvies. Notable amongst the family at this time was Earl of Macclesfield.

For the next two of three centuries bearers of the surname Parker flourished and played a significant role in the political development of England. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. Puritanism, Catholicism, Royalist and parliamentary forces shed much blood. Many families were freely “encouraged” to migrate to Ireland or to the “colonies”. Some were rewarded with grants of lands, others were banished.

In Ireland, settlers became known as the Adventurers seeking land. Called “undertakers” they undertook to maintain the Protestant faith. In Ireland the Parker name was recorded in the 1659 census in all the provinces.

Meanwhile the New World beckoned and migration continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England or Scotland. Some clans and families even moved to the European continent.

Kinsmen of the family name Parker were amongst the many who sailed aboard the armada of small sailing ships known as the “White Sails” which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships were pestilence ridden, sometime 30% to 40% of the passenger list never reaching their destination, their number reduced by sickness or the elements.

Principal amongst the settlers which could be considered a kinsman of the surname Parker or a variable spelling of that family name was Captain George Parker who settled in Accomac Co. 1654; William Parker, who settled in Hartford, Connecticut, 1635; and Neilson Parker who settled in New Jersey.

The trek from the port of entry was also arduous and many joined the wagon trains to the prairies or to the west coast. During the American War of Independence, many loyalists made their way north to Canada about 1790 and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.

20th century notables of this surname, Parker, include many distinguished persons, Barrett Parker, American diplomat; Clifford Parker, British Lawyer, Sir Edmund Parker, British Company Director; Glenn Parker, American Supreme Court Judge; Raymond Parker, Artist.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

2012 Parker Family Reunion - A Great Success

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