Straker
The surname Straker was first found in Lancashire in England, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1246 when Robert Straker held lands. The surname of STRAKER was derived from the Old English word 'stracere' an occupational name 'the striker', from the verb 'stracian'. Occupational surnames refer directly to the  particular trade or occupation followed by the first bearer of the name. These occupations can be divided into classes such as agricultural, manufacturing, retailing and so on. In the Middle Ages, at least among the Christian population, people did not pursue specialised occupations exclusively to the extent that we do today. Smiths, millers and wrights were indeed specialists, but even they would normally have their own smallholdings for growing crops and keeping a few animals. Others were simply designated as the servant of some person of a higher social status, as a maid or parson. One of the clauses of  the Magna Carta provided that there should be one measure of corn, namely the London quarter. Local custom, however, was stronger than the national law, and there was a constant struggle between law and custom over the bushel and quarter. By statute the quarter should contain 8 bushels, each of eight gallons, 'striked' and the official responsible for the accuracy of the measure was called the 'straker' or 'striker'. Before William the Conqueror invaded in 1066, no one had surnames, only christian names or nicknames, in England. Based on this, people were given surnames to show trades, or areas where  they lived, and physical attributes, or where they came from. Surnames were used in France and like-speaking countries from about the year 1000, and a few places had second names even earlier. Even early monarchs had additions to show attributes and character, for example Ethelred the Unready (never prepared). Edward I was named 'Longshanks' because of his long legs, and Richard III was called 'Crouchback' because of his deformed shoulder. Early records of the name mention Robert le Straker, 1246, County Lancashire. William Strakour, 1327, County Surrey. Edward Stryke of Yorkshire was documented in 1379, and William Strike appeared  in London in the year 1400. Notable people with the surname Straker include: Fictional characters: straker family site