Makepeace Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Makepeace Origin:

England, France

Origins of Makepeace:

This interesting name acquires from the old English “Mak(en),” which means to make, and “Pais,” which means peace and originally given as a nickname to a judge or one recognized for his skill in ending noise. The surname first noted in the first half of the 13th Century. One Thomas Makepays, witness, shows in the 1340 Fines Court Rolls of Staffordshire, and Joan Makepeace was the name given to the daughter of Edward 11 (1307 – 1327) when the extended war with the Bruces of Scotland slightly appeased by her marriage. One of the earliest records of the name in London was the wedding of Elizabeth Makepeace and Christopher Hodgkins in the Parish of St. Botolph’s, (Bishopsgate) Record in July 1564. William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 – 1863), author of “Vanity Fair,” was a famous ancestor of the name. The Royal symbol most related to the family given to William Makepeace of Pensham Court, District of Worcester in 1724 and has the blazon of a blue shield, on a gold fesse between two gold leopards’ passant, three red cross crosslets fitchee.

Variations:

More common variations are: Mackepeace, Maekepeace, Make Peace, Makepace, Makepece, Makepeace, Makepiece, Makepease, Makepeice, Makepeas.

England:

The surname Makepeace first appeared in Warwickshire where they held a family seat from old times and their first records developed on the early poll rolls derived by the early Kings of Britain to manage the rate of taxation of their services.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Gregory Makepais, dated about 1219, in the “Register of the Freemen of Leicester.” It was during the time of King Henry III who was known to be the “The Frenchman,” dated 1216 – 1272. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling variations of the original one.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Makepeace had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Makepeace landed in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Makepeace who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Thomas Makepeace settled in Boston in 1630. Thomas Makepeace, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635. John Makepeace, who landed in Virginia in 1657. George Makepeace settled in Virginia in 1663. Ann Makepeace, who landed in Maryland in 1672.

People with the surname Makepeace who landed in the United States in the 18th century included Anne Makepeace settled in Maryland in 1733. Elizabeth Makepeace settled in Virginia in 1770.

The following century saw much more Makepeace surnames arrive. Some of the people with the surname Makepeace who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Henry Makepeace, who came to Arkansas in 1885.

New Zealand:

Individuals with the surname Makepeace who landed in New Zealand in the 19th century included John Makepeace landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Makepeace: England 1,479; Guatemala 1,476; United States 840; South Africa 438; Australia 410; Canada 259; Germany 134; Wales 56; Norway 39; Scotland 33.

Notable People:

Chris Makepeace (born 1964), is a Canadian film and television actor.

George Makepeace Towle (August 1841, Washington, D.C. – August 1893, Brookline, Massachusetts) was an American advocate, leader, and writer. He is famous for his translations of Jules Verne’ s works, in his 1873 translation of Around the World in Eighty Days.

Harry Makepeace (1881–1952), was an English sportsman.

John Makepeace (born 1939), is a British furniture designer and producer.

John Makepeace Bennett (1921–2010), was a computer scientist.

Jonathan Makepeace (1774–1850), was an American producer of snuff tobacco and political leader.

Mary Lou Makepeace was an activist.

Reginald Makepeace (1887–1918), was a British World War I flying expert.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Pensham Court, co. Worcester, Middle Temple, London, and co. Warwick; granted by Anstis, Garter, 1724, to William Makepeace, and the descendants of his father, William Makepeace of co. Warwick). (London, and Warfield, co. Berks). Az. on a fesse betw. two leopards pass. or, three crosses crosslet fitchee gu. Crest—A leopard pass. reguard. or, resting the dexter foot on a shield gu. charged with a cross crosslet fitchée gold.
2) Same Arms. Crest—A unicorn’s head ar. betw. two laurel branches orleways vert.
3) Az. on a fesse betw. two leopards pass. or, three crosses crosslet gu. Crest—A dove bolding in the beak an olive branch all ppr.