The Babcock Family History
The Babcock family is of English origin. Precisely when and where in England it originated is impossible to ascertain. One claim is that the family was founded A.D. 449 by a Saxon warrior in the ranks of Hengest and Horsa who came with a Saxon army to assist the English against the Picts and Scots (American Family Antiquity vol. iii, p. 199). The family is widespread in England, but is most numerous in Essex County.
“The English surname Babcock is matronymic in origin, derived from the first name of the mother of the original bearer. A common pet-form for Barbara in the medieval period was ‘Bab’. Thus Babcock signifies ‘son of Bab’. Barbara, in turn, originates from the Greek word for stranger. Saint Barbara was a popular saint honoured by the Church as a virgin and a martyr who died about 235 A.D. According to legend, Barbara grew up in a pagan house in which great honour was paid to Roman gods. Despite the fact that she was closely watched, she took secret instruction in Christianity and was baptized. When her father discovered this he had her tortured and beaten and when she refused to deny her new faith, he cut off her head with an axe.
The surname was first recorded in 1259 A.D. when Nicholas Bab was registered in the Calendar of Wills at the Court of Hustings. The diminutive ‘cock’ was a general sobriquet for a sharp, forward lad. Hence its general appearance in Willcox, Hancock, Leacock, etc. One notable bearer of the name was Stephen Moulton Babcock (1843-1931), a New York born agricultural scientist who established the Babcock test which advanced the modern dairy industry” (The Historical Research Centre, Dublin, 18 September, 1993).
“As stated before, the Babcock family abounded in Essex County, England. There is historical reference in church records as early as the 12th century. One family tradition states that one James Babcock, born about 1580 A.D., a clergyman of the Church of England, but of Puritanical persuasion, became exiled to Leyden, Holland in 1620, and sailed for Plymouth, Mass. in 1623. This would make him the founding father of our family on this continent” (The Dictionary of American Family Antiquity, vol. iii, p. 199). The earliest record in America has it that James Babcock was in Portsmouth R.I. in 1642. He came from England and was born in Essex County. Until after the death of James, Sr. in 1679, the family name was spelled Badcock or Badcocke. Since the death of his son John in 1685, the name has been spelled Babcock; even though many still spell it Badcock. Aberrations such as Badco, Babco and Budco also appear.
Almost all of our Babcock ancestors had “the pioneer spirit”, for they left their homes in other lands and chose to live in Canada. They may have been fleeing religious or political persecution or financial hard times. There are approximately one thousand Babcock households in Canada, with a total population of around 3,500 men, women, and children who proudly bear this distinguished family name. Babcocks reside in 9 of the 10 provinces and in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. There is a concentration of nearly 500 Babcock households in Ontario.
Some Early Ancestors
Peter Irish, Great, Great, Great, Great Gradfather.
Abraham Irish, Great, Great, Great Gradfather.
David Babcock, Great, Great, Great Gradfather.
Benjamin Babcock, Great, Great, Great Gradfather.
Jacob Powley, Great, Great, Great Gradfather.
James Powely, Great, Great Gradfather.
Silas Babcock, Great, Great Gradfather.
Solomon Babcock, Great Grandfather.
John Nelson Babcock, Grandfather.