Show ContentsSalkirk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands that the Strathclyde-Briton people first used the ancient name Salkirk. It was a name for someone who lived in the former royal burgh county town of Selkirk. [1] [2] [3] This place name was also known as Selechirche, Selechyrche, Selekirke and literally meant "the Palace-Church [Old English sele, a palace, hall + O.(N.)E. circe (= Old Norse kirkia), a church] The Scottish kings had a hunting residence at Selkirk." [4]

Another source notes the name came from "Cellkirk, a religious house. A cell was anciently that part of a temple within the walls. Sel-carrik." [5]

And another source claims a slightly different origin of the place name. "This place, which is of considerable antiquity, derives its name, in the Celtic tongue signifying "the Church in the forest," from the ancient state of the surrounding district, which was thickly covered with wood and appropriated as a royal chase. From its proximity to the border, it was frequently the scene of hostile incursions, and intricately involved in all the ferocious and sanguinary wars of the rival kingdoms, during the mutual efforts of their monarchs to obtain the ascendancy. In the 12th century it appears to have been regarded as a place of importance; and David I. founded near the site of the present town a monastery, which was, however, subsequently for greater security removed to Kelso.' [6]

Early Origins of the Salkirk family

The surname Salkirk was first found in Selkirkshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Shalcraig), where one of the first records of the family was Thomas de Selghkirk, who rendered homage to King Edward I of England at Berwick in 1291. Later, Hugh de Selkyrk was a burgess of Edinburgh in 1368 and in 1400 mention is made of a land there belonging to Peter de Selkirk (presumably his son.) [1]

Early History of the Salkirk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Salkirk research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1368, 1515, 1567, 1580, 1676, 1679, 1684, 1690, 1704, 1709, 1721 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Salkirk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Salkirk Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Salkirk has appeared as Selkirk, Salkirk, Silkrige, Selkyrk, Selcraig and others.

Early Notables of the Salkirk family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721), prototype of 'Robinson Crusoe,' also known as Alexander Selcraig, a Scottish privateer and sailor, seventh son of John Selcraig, shoemaker, of Largo, Fifeshire. [7]In September 1704, Captain Stradling aboard Cinque Ports, dropped Selkirk off on the island of Juan Fernandez with a musket, a hatchet, a knife, a cooking pot, a Bible, bedding and some...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Salkirk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Salkirk family

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them: James Selkirk who settled in New York State in 1774; Robert Selkridge settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767.



The Salkirk 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: Jamais arriere
Motto Translation: Never behind.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  4. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  5. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  6. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  7. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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