Surname Saturday: Drake

The surname Drake comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "draca" which means a dragon or sea serpent.  Draca has its roots in the Latin terms "draco" or "drago."  As a nickname, they could apply to someone fierce in battle, or a standard bearer.  Draca was used in medieval England to mean a battle standard as well as dragon.  Soon after the Norman invasion in 1066, the name appeared in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire area in the south of England.  From Saxon times, the name was found at Musbury in Devon.  A John Drake was recorded as holding lands at Musbury as early as 1272.

Outside Devon, Drakes were found in Somerset, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, and East Anglia.

In the 17th century, Drakes came to America.  Richard Drake arrived in Virginia from Somerset in 1658.  His descendants were planters in Isle of Wight county.  The Drake name cropped up in North Carolina in the early 1700's, particularly in Nash County.  These are the Drakes I am descended from. 

I have information about 11 generations of my paternal Drake line:

- Richard Drake

My 9th great-grandfather.  Birth and date information unknown, except the assumption that he was born in England.  His spouse is unknown.  I know only about three children: 

John Drake
Mary Drake
Thomas Drake
 
- John Drake

My 8th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1647 in South Petherton, Somerset, England and died about 1690, presumably in Virginia.  He married about 1670 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Jemima Parnell, birth and death information unknown.  They had the following children (there were probably more):

   John Drake
  Thomas Drake
  Richard Drake
 
- John Drake

My 7th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1675 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and died in 1753 in Southhampton County, Virginia.  His spouse is unknown, and I only have information about one of his children: 

- Barnaby Drake Sr

My 6th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1710 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and died in 1797 in Southhampton County, Virginia.  He married Mary Scott, and I only have information about one of their children:

- Exum Drake Sr

My 5th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1745 in Southhampton County, Virginia and died after 1820 in Georgia.  He married Keziah MNU (maiden name and birth and date information unknown).  They had the following children:

  Richard Drake
  James Drake
  FNU Drake
  Exum Drake Jr
  Brittain Drake
 
- Richard Drake

My 4th great-grandfather.  He was born about 1775 in Southhampton County, Virginia and died 24 January 1857 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He married 24 February 1803 in Southhampton County, Virginia, Pherabah Bryant, birth and death information unknown.  I only have information on one child:
 
- Francis Bryant Drake

My 3rd great-grandfather.  He was born 17 October 1806 in Nash County, North Carolina and died 27 December 1875 in Johnson County, Georgia.  He married 6 November 1828 in Washington County, Georgia, Selina King, born 21 July 1812 and died 27 May 1899.  They had the following children:

  James William Drake
  Pheribah Elizabeth Drake
  Bathsheba Winfred Drake
  Eliza Jane Drake
  Francis Milton Drake
  Richard Franklin Drake
  John Saffold Drake
  Thomas Lamar Drake
  Sarah Ann Selina Drake
  Robert Lemuel Drake
  Infant Drake
  Adra Ann Sarusha Drake

- James William Drake

My 2nd great-grandfather.  He was born 19 December 1829 in Washington County, Georgia and died 14 December 1908 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He married 29 June 1856 in Washington County, Georgia, Mary Ann R. Brantley, born 19 December 1837 in Georgia and died 5 May 1891 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  They had the following children:

  William John Drake
  Francis Richard Drake
  James Thomas Drake
  Willie Elizabeth Drake
  Martha Loueazer Drake
  George Franklin Drake
  Mary Selina Drake
  Nancy Elizabeth Winfred Drake
  Lovick Pierce Drake 

- William John Drake

My great grandfather.  He was born 23 September 1857 in Emanuel County, Georgia, and died 19 August, 1927 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He married (1) 24 July 1879 in Johnson County, Georgia, Willie Elizabeth Allen, born 23 January 1864 and died 21 January 1882.  They had one child:

  Samantha Augusta Drake

He married (2) 30 July 1883, Emma Vermell Harrell, born 4 September 1867 in Emanuel County, Georgia and died 19 October 1935 in Sandersville, Washington County, Georgia.  They had the following children:

  Hattie Lay Drake
  Kenneth Catherine Drake
  Willliam Lovick Drake
  Nealie Vermell Drake
  William Robert Drake
  James Weldon Drake
  Keland Lawton Drake
  Nancy Mary Ann Drake
  Martha Lou Drake

- Nealie Vermell Drake Tapley

My grandmother was born 29 January 1895 and died 4 July 1970 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.  She married 5 April 1914 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, Lusion Keman Tapley, born 31 March 1870 in Johnson County, Georgia and died 3 July 1935 in Wadley, Jefferson County, Georgia.  They had the following children:

  William Lamar Tapley
  John Russell Tapley
  (Hugh) Dorsey Franklin Tapley
  Jack Dempsey Tapley
  Irene Tapley
  Gilbert Earl Tapley

- Gilbert Earl Tapley

My father was born 19 June 1928 in Johnson County, Georgia and died 15 December 2008 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.  He married (1) Margaret E. Skipper, born 7 November 1927 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and died 27 May 1984 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.  They had two children.  Gilbert married (2) Annie Eloise Lee, born 27 February 1910 and died 8 July 1988 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.  They had no children.  (3) He and my mother had the following children:

  Michael Edward Tapley
 
- And ME. 

Sources:  

House of Names.com, http://www.houseofnames.com/drake-family-crest
Select.Surnames.website,  http://selectsurnames.com/drake.html