Where does the names stokes originate?

Answer 1

My last name is Stokes and I was interested in finding out more about my ancestors, this is what I found:

"Although there are often many reasons for using the name Stokes, the most common reason is to describe someone who lives near a monastery or out-lying farm, as opposed to the commonly held view that it was someone who "stoked" fires! Surnames were not in great use in England until the end of the 13th century. Coincidentally a large Monastery was built in Edington in 1351 by William of Edington, so it's unlikely the naming of the Stokes came before then. This does seem to indicate that Stokes' have lived in Edington from at least the middle of the thirteen hundreds. Alternatively there another possible choice. A village called Erlestoke exists, not more than 4 miles from Edington. The village was believed to have been named after Erle of Stoke. As spelling is effectively not existent until Caxton, this indicates a Stokes existing around the time of the creation of Erlestoke. This must be after 1086, as there is no mention of it in the Domesday Book. If Stokes did come from Erlestoke, why had there been such a dramatic change of fortune, that by the 1600s, there were merely peasant far

According to 'Hall of Names', Stokes is one of the oldest Norman surnames, possibly also coming from The Battle of Hastings. The earliest known records of Stokes is in Pembrokeshire, where they had been seated since early times. They were descended from Peter de Stock who came from Caen in Normandy round about 1180. This family was attracted to Pembroke in the wake of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke's invasion of Ireland, and soon after moved to Ireland in about 1220 where they were granted lands. They also branched out in England into Tetherton In Wiltshire, and also Watersend in Kent, Cambridge, Devon, and Gloucestershire.

The Normans are actually of Viking and not French origin. They besieged Paris in 910, until King Charles the 'Simple' granted all of northern France to Tirfinn Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the North Men. Rollo married Charles' daughter and was converted to Christianity. Duke William who attacked Hastings in 1066, was directly related to Rollo, who in turn was related to the Vikings who first attacked Scotland in 870 under Stirgud the Stout.

The original spelling of Stokes seems to have been Stoakes. Up until the 1700 and 1800s the Stokes were generally illiterate so the naming when written down came from the Vicars imagination. As you will see if the family tree the shift from Stoakes to Stokes actually came surprisingly between brother and sister, rather than father and son!."

Hope that helps.