These references were found by an experienced paleontologist* on our behalf. They refer in very early records involving people whose names were Okeborne (or similar) between the 13th and 16th Centuries. It will be noted that after the 15th century the name was spelt with a ‘G’ instead of ‘K’. Resorting to the law seems to have been a common event in those days.
* View sample of the type of document that this page summarises and written in the style of the time and many in Latin.
| Year | Summary of the case |
| 1259 | Peter de Okeburn’ gives half a mark for taking an assize of novel disseisin before the same John. Order to the sheriff of Sussex. |
| 1269 | Walter son of Roger de Okeburn’ gives half a mark for an assize to be taken. Order to the sheriff of Wiltshire. |
| 1349 | Thomas Sloghtre and Richard de Okeburn executors of the testament of Michael Clench sue Thomas Waller of Lamberhurst to show his accounts for when he was Michael’s receiver. |
| 1377 | William Okebourne, Somerset, clerk . William sues William abbot of Athelney for 40s rent arrears |
| 1399 | Robert Okebourne William de Ferrarijs sues John de Bolton parson of Swepstone, John Merehous parson of Lutterworth, Robert Rykedon and Robert Okebourne, in a plea of the manor of Woodham Ferrers that he makes against them |
| 1399 | Johanna Okeburn, London Johanna sues Juliana Dalby for the return of chattels worth 100s |
| 1401 | William Okeborne, Gloucestershire John prior of Bath sues John Cronk, William Okeborne, John Oxunford and Richard Gylmyn for having broken into his premises in Olveston |
| 1401 | William Okeburn, Gloucestershire William sues Richard Soon of Aylveston for 60s debt |
| 1415 | Alexander Okeborn of Wantynge, Berkshire, husbandman John Curre of Lyford sues Alexander and Thomas Loy of Tetteworth corsour for 40s debt each |
| 1415 | William Okeburn of Holston, Gloucestershire John Rolves sues William for (unspecified) trespass |
| 1415 | Robert Okbourne clerk, Hertfordshire John Peryan esquire, Roger Westwode clerk, Solomon Fresthorp, John Fouler clerk, Robert Okbourne clerk and Peter Thorp clerk sue John Hore of Cambridge esquire and Johanna his wife: concerning breach of covenant re premises and rents in Wellewes, Herts |
| 1416 | William Okeborne of London cooper William, as administrator of Geoffrey Broke of London grocer deceased, sues John Bryt of Swindon woolman for £23 debt |
| 1416 | William Okeburne of Helston, Cornwall (damaged) John Colnes sues William for (unspecified) trespass |
| 1418 | John Okebourne of Lynn Episcopi, Norfolk, chapman William Butt of London mercer sues John for £7 10s |
| 1418 | William Okeborne of Olston, Gloucestershire, husbandman John Rolves esquire sues William for £10 debt |
| 1420 | Walter Okeburn of Porton, Wiltshire, husbandman John Hayne sues Walter for 40s debt |
| 1430 | Robert Okeburne, Wiltshire Robert sues Richard Gore of New Sarum merchant for £27 4s debt |
| 1434 | John Okeborne, Dorset, clerk John sues John Jacob parson of Stafford, Dorset, for 20 marks |
| 1440 | John Okeburn of Baweld, Wiltshire, yeoman Humphrey duke of Gloucester sues several persons, including John, for having broken into his premises in Chippenham and Melksham |
| 1442 | Walter Okeborn, Wiltshire Walter sues Reginald Nedwode of New Sarum baker for 40s debt |
| 1442 | William Okeburn, Berkshire William sues John Bate of Abingdon joiner and Robert Horsnayll of Abingdon weaver for having assaulted him in Abingdon |
| 1442 | John Okeborn jr of New Sarum, clerk William Swayn and William Lyghtfote executors of the testament of John Whyte late of New Sarum, sue several persons for debt, including John Okeborn for 40s |
| 1444 | William Okeborne of London, clerk William sues John Lord of New Sarum clerk for 100s debt |
| 1450 | William Okeborn, Berkshire William sues John Pulkar of Sutton Courtenay jr husbandman for £6 debt, and William Manytorn of Wytnam Earls, Berkshire, husbandman for £8 |
| 1450 | William Okburn of Abingdon, Berkshire Thomas Plesaunce and William sue Richard Whyte of Sutton Courtenay husbandman and Henry Fyssher of Sutton Courtenay husbandman for £20 debt each |
| 1455 | Nicholas Okebourne of Salisbury husbandman Master Gilbert Kymer dean of Salisbury cathedral and the chapter of the same sue Maurice Broghton of New Sarum husbandman and Nicholas for debt of £10 each |
| 1455 | Walter and Thomas Okeborne of Compton Chamberleyn, Wiltshire, husbandmen William Wilkyns sues Walter and Thomas and others for taking cattle from his premises at Great Hardecote |
| 1458 | William Okebourne of Abingdon, Berkshire, weaver John Hynde of Marlborough baker sues Walter for having assaulted him in Marlborough: Walter countersues John for having assaulted and robbed him in Abingdon |
| 1460 | William Okebourne of Westbury, Gloucestershire, dean of the collegiate church William Parchemener and William Sutton clerk executors of William Okebourne sue Richard Wheler of Aust in Gloucestershire, outlaw |
| 1463 | Robert Okeborne of Lacok, Wiltshire, yeoman Philip Morgan sues several persons, including Robert, for having broken into his premises at Chitterne and Chapmannyslade |
| undated [1465-1471 or 1480-1493] John Okeburn prior of St John’s, Wilton Richard Warla of Wilton petitions the Lord Chancellor to issue a subpoena against John to bring him for trial concerning an action of debt | |
| 1472 | Robert Okeborne of Salisbury merchant Edmund Lamberd sues several people, including Robert, for sums of money (in Robert’s case 8 marks) |
| 1472 Robert Okeborne of Salisbury mercer John Stratford sues Robert for 6 marks 10s debt | |
| 1477 | William Okeborne of Marlborough, Wiltshire William sues John Prowete of Marlborough tanner for 100s debt |
| 1489 | Thomas Okeburne of Abingdon, Berkshire, yeoman John abbot of Abingdon sues various people for debt, including Thomas (40s) |
| 1492 | John Okborn, Gloucestershire John Okborn and John Hylp senior sue John Burnell late of Brymeseham in the parish of Yate, Glos., in a qui tam action for having entered into their property illegally |
| 1498 | William Okeborn of Enfield, Middlesex, husbandman John Sayer brings a qui tam action against William for having illegally entered into his property in Southbenfleet and Hadley |
| 1500 | Roger Okeburn of New Shoreham, Sussex, weaver William Cunstabyll sues Roger for £10 debt |
| 1505 | John Okeburn of Carlton, Cambridgeshire, clerk Nicholas Goldwell sues various people for debt, including John as executor of the testament of William Denyas (or Devyas) clerk late parson of Wissington, Suffolk (£10) |
| 1512 | Christopher Ogburne, Yorkshire Christopher sues William Clayton of Camsall husbandman, Thomas Byngley of Skelbroke husbandman and Thomas Ingland of Skelbroke husbandman for 10 marks debt |
| 1558 | John Ogborne of Winterslow, Wiltshire, yeoman John Foster of Baddesley, Hampshire, esquire sues John for £250 debt |
| 1579 | Edward Ogborne of Broughton, Hamshire, yeoman The final judgment in a long case brought by Edward against John Jeffreys of Chilworth, Hampshire, gentleman, relating to the title to the manor of Broughton, Hampshire |