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Ackland History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Ackland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Ackland is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in or near a prominent grove of oak trees. The name Ackland literally means oak-land. The branch of the family that originated in Devon is said to have been named for a particular grove near their seat at Acland Barton in Landkey.

"Akland, in Landkey, near Barnstaple, is the first seat of the Acland family, and has been held by them from the twelfth century." 1

Early Origins of the Ackland family

The surname Ackland was first found in Devon, where "Acland, which gave name to this ancient family, is now a farm in the parish of Landkey." 2

"Acland, or rather Aukeland, as taking name from a grove of oaks, for by such an one the house is seated, and hath given name and long habitation to the clarous family of Aclands, which have many ages here flourished in a worshipful degree." 2

Hugh de Accalen is the first recorded ancestor in 1155. The aforementioned farm still exists and is about 3/4 mile north-east of the village of Landkey. "The ancient family of Acland for nearly three centuries have made their home in the vicinity of Exeter. Sir John Acland was the builder of the house at Columbjohn, which gave title to the baronetcy at its creation in 1644, and which was garrisoned by its owner for the King. At one time it contained the only Royalist garrison in the county; but in March, 1646, it was the headquarters of Sir Thomas Fairfax. This mansion has been destroyed, and the present seat of the Aclands is at Killerton, in the same parish of Broad Clyst. Originally built in the year 1788, Killerton was greatly enlarged and improved by its late owner, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, to whom the distinguished honour was paid of the erection of a statue on Northernhay, Exeter, in his lifetime, ' as a tribute for private worth and public integrity, and in testimony of admiration of a generous heart and open hand, which have been ever ready to protect the weak, to relieve the needy, and to succour the oppressed of whatever party, race, or creed.' The Aclands take their second name of Dyke as representatives of the old Somersetshire family of that name." 1

Some of the family were found in Cornwall. "The manor of Crugantarran, or Cragantallan, which is partly in this parish and partly in Newlyn, belonged to the Arundells of Trerice. It is now the property of Sir Thomas Dyke Ackland, bart." 3

Early History of the Ackland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ackland research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1155, 1553, 1573, 1591, 1610, 1613, 1626, 1636, 1644, 1647, 1649, 1655, 1672, 1697, 1714, 1722, 1728, 1785, 1818 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ackland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ackland Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ackland has been spelled many different ways, including Acland, Aukland, Aclands, Ackland, Acklands and many more.

Early Notables of the Ackland family

Notables of the family at this time include John VI Acland (died 1553) who was described as "the first of the (Acland) family to emerge from the shadows of history as a visible human being." Sir John Acland (d. 1613), was the second son of John Acland, of Acland in Landkey, Devonshire. "From his mother he obtained considerable landed property in the neighbourhood of London, and increased his fortune by marrying Elizabeth, the daughter of George Rolle, of Stevenston, in Devon, and the widow of Robert Mallet, of Woolleigh in the same county. " 4Anthony Acland (died 1626), was an English...
Another 137 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ackland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ackland migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Acklands to arrive in North America:

Ackland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George and Mary Ackland who settled in Virginia in 1623
George Ackland, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 5
Mary Ackland, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 5
George Ackland, who landed in Virginia in 1624 5
Georg Ackland, who landed in Virginia in 1638 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ackland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Ackland, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1854
Thomas R. Ackland, who settled in Philadelphia in 1854

Ackland migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ackland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Ackland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Surrey" in 1838 6
James Ackland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Surrey" in 1838 6
Susanna Ackland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Surrey" in 1838 6
Robert Ackland, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Catherine" in 1851 7
Sarah Ackland, aged 26, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Catherine" in 1851 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ackland migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ackland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William N. Ackland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harkaway" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd June 1857 8
Charles Ackland, aged 44, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 9
Eliza Ackland, aged 41, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 9
Maria Ackland, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 9
William Ackland, aged 18, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Edward P Bouverie" in 1873 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ackland (post 1700) +

Joss Ackland CBE (1928-2023), born as Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland, an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles
Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland CBE (1928-2023), known as Joss Ackland, an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles
Thomas Gilbank Ackland (1791-1844), English divine educated at the Charterhouse and St. John's College, Cambridge 10
Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland CBE (b. 1928), English actor who has appeared in more than 130 films
Rodney Ackland (1908-1991), English playwright and screenwriter
Commander Heber Kemble Ackland, British Royal Navy ooficer, Equerry to The Queen from 2004
Thomas Henry Ackland, Australian surgeon, Victoria, Australia
Valentine Ackland (1906-1969), British poet
Ronald Charles "Ron" Ackland (1934-2013), New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach who represented his country in the 1957 and 1960 World Cups and coached his country in the 1977 World Cup
Oliver Ackland (b. 1979), Australian actor
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Ackland Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Inebranlable
Motto Translation: Unshaken.

Citations +

Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SURRY/SURREY 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Surry-Surrey.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CATHERINE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Catherine.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019