DRAKE
Drake
Drake is a prestigious and ancient English surname that has origins dating back to the medieval era. The name is derived from the Middle English word "drake," which means male duck. It is believed to have been originally bestowed as a nickname on someone who bore a resemblance to a duck or displayed duck-like characteristics.
Origins and History
The Drake surname can be traced back to the county of Devon in southwestern England, where the family held a noble seat as Lords of the Manor of Ashe. The earliest recorded mention of the name is found in the Domesday Book compiled in 1086, which lists a William Atte-Drake as a landowner in the county of Somerset. Over the centuries, the Drakes gained prominence and spread their influence across various regions of England.
Notable Individuals
The Drake family produced several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous members of the clan was Sir Francis Drake (1540–1596), a renowned Elizabethan naval commander and explorer who circumnavigated the globe and played a pivotal role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Heraldry and Coat of Arms
The Drake family has a distinguished coat of arms, featuring a shield with a silver field bearing three black wyverns (winged dragons) in the shield's chief. The crest consists of a gold dragon's head with two snakes issuing from its mouth.
Contemporary Significance
In modern times, the surname Drake continues to be prevalent in Britain and beyond, with descendants of the historic Drake family found across the globe. The name has also been adopted by popular culture and features prominently in literature, films, and music.
The legacy of the Drake surname serves as a reminder of the family's enduring impact on British history and culture, cementing their place as one of the nation's esteemed lineages.
There are approximately 12,547 people named Drake in the UK. That makes it the 720th most common surname in Britain. Around 193 in a million people in Britain are named Drake.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Alison
- Angela
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Dredge
- Drace
- Drack
- Dracea
- Darke
- Drak
- Dahroug
- Darack
- Daragh
- Darak
- Darake
- Darc
- Darck
- Darecki
- Darek
- Darg
- Darga
- Dargh
- Dargo
- Dargue
- Darick
- Darik
- Dark
- Darkie
- Darko
- Darku
- Daroga
- Darok
- Darque
- Darrack
- Darracq
- Darragh
- Darraugh
- Darrick
- Darrock
- Darrough
- Darrugh
- Daruk
- Daurka
- Dearick
- Dereck
- Derecki
- Derego
- Derek
- Deric
- Derick
- Derig
- Derik
- Derk
- Derocco
- Derragh
- Derraugh
- Derreck
- Derrek
- Derrick
- Derrico
- Derrig
- Derrigg
- Derrik
- Derrough
- Derucki
- Derycke
- Dierick
- Diorgu
- Dirago
- Direk
- Dirico
- Dirik
- Dirk
- Dirke
- Dirki
- Dirkie
- Dirocco
- Dirrick
- Doerga
- Doerig
- Doorga
- Doragh
- Dorak
- Dorego
- Dorg
- Dorgu
- Dorgue
- Dorick
- Dorigo
- Dork
- Dorka
- Dorke
- Dorko
- Dorough
- Dorraugh
- Dorrick
- Dorrough
- Dourec
- Dowrick
- Draca
- Dracey
- Draco
- Dracou
- Dracz
- Drag
- Draga
- Drage
- Dragg
- Draghi
- Draghia
- Drago
- Dragoi
- Dragu
- Draig
- Draker
- Drakes
- Drakett
- Drakley
- Drako
- Drakos
- Drakou
- Draks
- Drax
- Draye
- Dreas
- Dreike
- Dreke
- Drick
- Droc
- Droga
- Drogo
- Droke
- Droko
- Droog
- Drook
- Druck
- Druco
- Drug
- Druga
- Druk
- Druka
- Druke
- Duerk
- Durac
- Durack
- Durak
- Duraku
- Durga
- Duric
- Durica
- Durick
- Durig
- Durik
- Durk
- Durka
- Durke
- Durkee
- Durkie
- Durko
- Durrick
- Durrough
- Duruaku
- Durugo
- Dyrek
- Dyrga
- Dyrka
- Tarak
- Taraki
- Tarca
- Tarek
- Tareq
- Targ
- Taricco
- Tarik
- Tarika
- Tariq
- Tarique
- Tark
- Tarka
- Tarki
- Tarouca
- Tarrago
- Tarrega
- Taruc
- Taurog
- Teeruck
- Teraoka
- Terec
- Terek
- Teriaca
- Terigo
- Terriaca
- Teruggi
- Tiric
- Tirk
- Toracca
- Torak
- Tork
- Torka
- Torke
- Torki
- Torku
- Torok
- Torraca
- Torracca
- Torrico
- Tourick
- Track
- Trak
- Trake
- Traugh
- Trawka
- Trcka
- Treago
- Treague
- Trec
- Treco
- Tregg
- Trego
- Trica
- Tricca
- Trick
- Trig
- Trigg
- Trigge
- Triggo
- Trigo
- Trike
- Triki
- Troak
- Troake
- Troc
- Trock
- Trocka
- Trocki
- Trocko
- Trogg
- Troka
- Troke
- Troki
- Trook
- Trooke
- Trough
- Trouke
- Trucco
- Truck
- Trucke
- Trueick
- Trugg
- Trugh
- Truica
- Truick
- Truog
- Tryc
- Trygg
- Tryka
- Tuerk
- Turaga
- Turak
- Turaki
- Turc
- Turca
- Turck
- Turco
- Turcu
- Tureck
- Turek
- Turgg
- Turic
- Turiccki
- Turk
- Turka
- Turke
- Turki
- Turkie
- Turko
- Turku
- Turok
- Tyrack
- Tyrek
- Tyric
- Tyrka
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.