Docwra One-Name Study

Arms of the Docwra family, 'Sable, a chevron engrailed argent between three plates each charged with a pallet gules'

Docwra
One-Name Study

Topics

About the Docwra One-Name Study
Variants
Origin of the surname
Historical occurrences
Distribution of the name
Data
Links
Contact Details

About the Docwra One-Name Study

We began by trying to bring together records about people named Docwra (and its many variant spellings) into one database to help anyone who has an interest in the surname to be able to find information more easily. This has grown into a full one name study and family research project.

Variants

Dockwray, Dockwra, Docra, Dockera, Dokra, Dockerill, Dockerell, Dockrill, Dockrell, Docray, Dockray,

Origin of the surname

The surname Docwra originated from the Cumberland villages of Dockray, one of which is in Matterdale near to Penrith, and the other is not far from Wigton. It is generally thought that the Matterdale village was the origin of most Docwra surnames, although there was an old farm house called Dockray Hall in the other village. In Penrith there is a building which is claimed to be the original house or hall of the Docwra family there, whilst several miles away in Grasmere there is a Docwra Cottage.

Historical occurrences

Sir Henry Docwra, Baron Dockwra of Culmore, leader of the English army to Ireland, 1600.

James Dokray, Constable of the King's Castle of Carrickfergus 1469

Sir Thomas Docwra, Grand Prior of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, head of the Knights' Hospitallers in England 1510-1527

Thomas Dockwray, 1st Master of the Stationers' Company of London, 1557-1559

William Dockwra, Originator of the London Penny Post 1680, Master of the Armourers' Company 1692-1693

Ann Docwra, Quaker writer, late 1600's

Distribution of the name

Mainly found now in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Norfolk, lesser concentrations in other UK counties and around the world.

Data

IGI, documents, images, pedigrees, BMD's (some), parish records (some), census transcripts (some), will transcripts (some), cemetery records (some), war graves (all) and memorials (some).

Links

Docwra Family Research Project

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Ms Anne Nichols
4 Drovers Way,
Burton,
Carnforth
LA6 1HU
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:

This page last updated 25 February 2008.